BHPetrol today announced a sponsorship deal with Axle Motorsport which sees the formation of Axle BHPetrol Racing go-kart team. A signing ceremony was held at the BHPetrol TTDI petrol kiosk to mark the occasion. BHPetrol is delighted to be associated with Axle Motorsport as they are well-known in the go-karting industry. Their combination of visibility and leadership in the sporting arena makes it a natural fit for BHPetrol’s branding” said Tan Kim Thiam, Managing Director, BHPetrol. “One of our primary motivations for our sponsorship in Axle Motorsport is to use the sports as a powerful business to business and create synergies between different companies within the partnering network” added Tan. For 2010 season, the team will be participating in the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) and Yamaha SL Cup. The team has signed up three aspiring and talented young drivers;
1. Daim Hishamuddin (12 years) 2009 Rotax Asian Champion
2. James Pull (11 years) KKS Cadet Champion
3. Tan Wei Ron (15 years) a young and rising star to compete in the senior category.
“Our primary target is to seal at least one championship under Yamaha SL Cup and couple of podium finishes in the AKOC series”, added team founder Alex Yoong. Axle BHPetrol Racing main focus is to make sure that their drivers have the correct foundation in their driving to help speed up their development. It is important to make sure that the drivers have the correct habits, focus and attitudes before they try and graduate to cars. It is the team’s long-term focus not to just help their drivers in the short-term but to implement proper programs at all levels of motorsport leading up to Formula One. “A driver’s development never stops” added Yoong. This partnership also marks the successful debut of the AXLE.BHPetrol Racing Team in the go-kart industry with the aim of changing the Malaysia go-karting scene and to help lift the industry to new heights.
Alex Yoong also added that parents looking to promote their kids to professional go karting should be financially ready to spend at least RM30-RM50,000 for the first year on the local Malaysian circuit and as they get better and go regionally the costs will go up and travel and accommodation costs will add up the total cost. This is why sponsorship is vital and finishing ahead of the pack ensures added money to the racing fund. The signing ceremony was represented by BHPetrol’s Managing Director, Mr Tan Kim Thiam and Axle Motorsport founder, Mr Alex Yoong.
