Supercheap Auto Racing
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Paul Weel Racing is a former Australian motor racing team which competed in the V8 Supercar Championship Series
, owned by Kees Weel and his son Paul
.
EL Falcon for Paul Weel
, a graduate of stadium off-road racing and wearing signage of family-owned companies. Very much a privateer outfit in the beginning the team expanded quickly and Paul Weel's ability increased to become one of the front running privateer operations. They soon constructed their own AU Falcon in preference to buying used racecars from more senior outfits and even built cars specifically for front running teams, notably fellow front running Queensland privateers, Greenfield Mowers Racing. A highlight of this period was finishing inside the top ten at the Bathurst 1000 on their first two attempts in 1998 and 1999 and qualifying for the top 15 Shootout at Bathurst 2001.
and grew the team to two cars and hiring the services of Jason Bright
after he left Holden Racing Team
and rebranding themselves as Team Brock
, the title previously used by Rod Nash Racing
and gaining sponsorship from Betta Electrical chain of electrical retail stores. In 2004, the team was self-funded again, this time by Kees and Paul's performance and modification company, PWR Performance. The team had a good year with Bright, claiming third in the championship.
joined the team replacing Bright. The other announcement was that SCAR/PWR were going to use engines built by Perkins Engineering while still having ties with Tom Walkinshaw Racing
(TWR) by using older specification chassis originally used by HRT
. The team had some early joy with Murphy winning the second round of the 2005 series in his native New Zealand
. But when they switched to the Perkins "Aurora" engine after the Shanghai round, the team were struggling with reliability, poor consistency and both Murphy and Weel were complaining of an imbalance and handling difficulties. Murphy made headlines after tapping Marcos Ambrose
into the wall at the 2005 Bathurst 1000 and the two had a heated argument.
At the end of the season, Paul Weel announced his retirement from full time racing to focus on his aftermarket performance company, PWR Performance Products. The team signed Cameron McConville
and the team was joined by finance giant No Limit. In 2006, the team had a string of bad luck, only scoring a couple of Top 10 finishes.
In 2007 Paul Dumbrell
replaced Murphy. Another change was in order when PWR got outsourced chassis for the first time. These came from Dencar, the chassis engineering arm of Walkinshaw Performance. While still using the Perkins engine, the engines would be serviced "in house".
front runner Andrew Thompson for the 2008 season in one of the teams VE Commodores, while the second franchise was moved and acquired by Ford Rising Stars Racing
.
It was announced that the 2008 season would be the last for the team and the franchise had been sold to another team for 2009, bringing to an end eleven years of competition.
2008 PWR announced the team cars and equipment, HQ were for sale, 4 VZ Commodore 2 VE's, Paul Weel Bathurst damaged car was scrapped, So P Dumbrell / A Thomson car VE011 was ready to be sold.
1 complete VZ the Ex J Bright 047 car was also ready to be sold, 041, 042, 046 awaited rebuild, engine and gearboxes
047 chassis car was sold to Holden Racing (UK) Ltd and remains in the UK. The other cars have remained in Australia. Kees and Paul Weel have remained in motor sport albeit, off-road competition.
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
, owned by Kees Weel and his son Paul
Paul Weel
Paul Weel born 27 July 1979 in Geelong, Victoria, was an Australian V8 Supercar racing driver. He raced 12 seasons in V8 Supercars with a best finish of 3rd in Adelaide 2003. His best enduro finish was a 5th at the 2002 Queensland 500 and best Bathurst finish was 8th in 1999...
.
Ford Years
PWR Racing started out as a single car operation from Queensland where the family lived. The team ran an ex-LonghurstTony Longhurst
Tony Longhurst is an Australian former racing driver and Australian Champion water skier. He is most noted for his career in the Australian Touring Car Championship and V8 Supercar series....
EL Falcon for Paul Weel
Paul Weel
Paul Weel born 27 July 1979 in Geelong, Victoria, was an Australian V8 Supercar racing driver. He raced 12 seasons in V8 Supercars with a best finish of 3rd in Adelaide 2003. His best enduro finish was a 5th at the 2002 Queensland 500 and best Bathurst finish was 8th in 1999...
, a graduate of stadium off-road racing and wearing signage of family-owned companies. Very much a privateer outfit in the beginning the team expanded quickly and Paul Weel's ability increased to become one of the front running privateer operations. They soon constructed their own AU Falcon in preference to buying used racecars from more senior outfits and even built cars specifically for front running teams, notably fellow front running Queensland privateers, Greenfield Mowers Racing. A highlight of this period was finishing inside the top ten at the Bathurst 1000 on their first two attempts in 1998 and 1999 and qualifying for the top 15 Shootout at Bathurst 2001.
Moving to Holden
After a few seasons pulling out the team, the Weel's made a partnership with the late Peter BrockPeter Brock
Peter Geoffrey Brock, AM otherwise known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain" or simply as "Brocky" was one of Australia's best-known and most successful motor racing drivers. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, although he raced vehicles of other...
and grew the team to two cars and hiring the services of Jason Bright
Jason Bright
Jason Bright is an Australian racing driver currently competing in the V8 Supercar series.-Australia:...
after he left Holden Racing Team
Holden Racing Team
The Holden Racing Team is a Melbourne based motor racing team. HRT is the most successful V8 Supercar racing team in the history of the category, having won the drivers championship six times, and the series signature race the Bathurst 1000 seven times...
and rebranding themselves as Team Brock
Team Brock
There are several Australian motor racing teams which have been called Team Brock.* Paul Weel Racing - Team Brock identity from 2003.* Rod Nash Racing - Team Brock identity from 2002.* Team Brock - Short lived Group C team from 1976/77....
, the title previously used by Rod Nash Racing
Rod Nash Racing
Rod Nash Racing is a V8 Supercar racing entity, owned by Rod Nash. Nash continues to own a V8 Supercar Racing Entitlement Contract and his #55 runs on the flanks of the Ford Performance Racing Ford FG Falcon....
and gaining sponsorship from Betta Electrical chain of electrical retail stores. In 2004, the team was self-funded again, this time by Kees and Paul's performance and modification company, PWR Performance. The team had a good year with Bright, claiming third in the championship.
Parntership with Supercheap Auto
In 2005, the team rejuvenated after they announced that they partnered themselves with Automotive parts giant, Supercheap Auto who had some lean years with Ford and Steve Ellery Racing and had left in the middle of the Indy 300 round in 2004. More shock announcements came when Greg MurphyGreg Murphy
Greg Murphy is a racing driver, best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. Greg Murphy joined Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond presenting Top Gear, when it had its first international Live show at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from February 12 - 15th 2009, and again when the show...
joined the team replacing Bright. The other announcement was that SCAR/PWR were going to use engines built by Perkins Engineering while still having ties with Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing , was an auto racing team and engineering firm founded in 1976 by touring car racer Tom Walkinshaw.-History:TWR started by modifying BMW 3.0 CSLs, but soon was contracted to head Mazda's works program in the British Touring Car Championship. The TWR developed RX-7, with Win...
(TWR) by using older specification chassis originally used by HRT
Holden Racing Team
The Holden Racing Team is a Melbourne based motor racing team. HRT is the most successful V8 Supercar racing team in the history of the category, having won the drivers championship six times, and the series signature race the Bathurst 1000 seven times...
. The team had some early joy with Murphy winning the second round of the 2005 series in his native New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. But when they switched to the Perkins "Aurora" engine after the Shanghai round, the team were struggling with reliability, poor consistency and both Murphy and Weel were complaining of an imbalance and handling difficulties. Murphy made headlines after tapping Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose is a championship winning Australian racing car driver. He currently drives the #9 Stanley Black & Decker Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
into the wall at the 2005 Bathurst 1000 and the two had a heated argument.
At the end of the season, Paul Weel announced his retirement from full time racing to focus on his aftermarket performance company, PWR Performance Products. The team signed Cameron McConville
Cameron McConville
Cameron 'Cam' McConville is an Australian racing driver and motorsport media personality. While retired from full-time competition McConville still races occasionally and is an indemand endurance event co-driver. McConville spent 14 years as a professional driver, ten of those in the largest...
and the team was joined by finance giant No Limit. In 2006, the team had a string of bad luck, only scoring a couple of Top 10 finishes.
In 2007 Paul Dumbrell
Paul Dumbrell
Paul Dumbrell , is an Australian racing driver who currently drives for Rod Nash Racing in the V8 Supercar Championship Series...
replaced Murphy. Another change was in order when PWR got outsourced chassis for the first time. These came from Dencar, the chassis engineering arm of Walkinshaw Performance. While still using the Perkins engine, the engines would be serviced "in house".
Collapse and re-birth
In November 2007, it was announced that Kees and Paul Weel would close the team down, with the expansion of the PWR Performance company restricting their time to effectively run the team. As the 2008 season approached the threat of $150,000 fines, per race, for not entering a car with sales of the teams two franchises proving problematic, the team announced a deal to run former Fujitsu V8 Supercars SeriesFujitsu V8 Supercars Series
The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is an Australian touring car competition, specifically the second tier series for V8 Supercar competitors. Competing vehicles are older than those utilised in the V8 Supercar Championship series and are run by smaller teams with lower budgets...
front runner Andrew Thompson for the 2008 season in one of the teams VE Commodores, while the second franchise was moved and acquired by Ford Rising Stars Racing
Ford Rising Stars Racing
Speed FX Racing is an Australian motor racing team. The team presently runs in the historic series Touring Car Masters with Glenn Seton driving their Ford XB Falcon....
.
It was announced that the 2008 season would be the last for the team and the franchise had been sold to another team for 2009, bringing to an end eleven years of competition.
2008 PWR announced the team cars and equipment, HQ were for sale, 4 VZ Commodore 2 VE's, Paul Weel Bathurst damaged car was scrapped, So P Dumbrell / A Thomson car VE011 was ready to be sold.
1 complete VZ the Ex J Bright 047 car was also ready to be sold, 041, 042, 046 awaited rebuild, engine and gearboxes
047 chassis car was sold to Holden Racing (UK) Ltd and remains in the UK. The other cars have remained in Australia. Kees and Paul Weel have remained in motor sport albeit, off-road competition.