WPS Racing was an Australian motor racing team that competed in Australian V8 Supercar racing between

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

and

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ...

. It was owned by

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

businessman Craig Gore and sponsored by his Wright Patton Shakespeare company.

History

In 2003, Wright Patton Shakespeare entered

V8 Supercars The Supercars Championship is a touring car racing category in Australia, running as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regulations, governing the sport. Supercars events take place in all Australian ...

as a sponsor of Mark Noske’s

Ford Falcon AU The Ford Falcon (AU) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1998 to 2002. It was the sixth generation Ford Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (AU)—the luxury-oriented model range. The AU series replaced the EL Falc ...

for the last three events of the season. In 2004, Gore purchased two Ford Falcon BAs, a transporter and associated equipment from the defunct 00 Motorsport team as well as the car and equipment (which was also ex 00 Motorsport) that Noske had used in 2003. The team initially ran one car with Noske and

David Besnard David Besnard, (born 21 January 1977 in Sydney, Australia) is a retired professional racing driver. Career history Starting in karts in 1991, he quickly proceeded into Formula Ford in 1995. After initial success, he had a major accident at Eas ...

sharing the driving duties under a Level 2 franchise leased from

Lansvale Racing Team Lansvale Racing Team, also known as Lansvale Smash Repairs Racing was an Australian motor racing team that competed in Australian touring car racing between 1986 and 2003. History The team first appeared at the 1986 Bathurst 1000 when Sydney c ...

. The second car was entered from Round 4 following the purchase of a Level 2 franchise from David Thexton. It also raced the ex Noske AU in the non-championship Konica race at Bathurst for Neil McFadyen. Noske left the team before the end of the year with

Craig Baird Craig George Baird (born 22 July 1970) is a New Zealand former racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has e ...

joining in

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris (dwarf planet), Er ...

, WPS also purchased two Level 1 licences from Perkins Engineering. In 2006, WPS Racing 'merged' with Larkham Motor Sport, with

Mark Larkham Mark "Larko" Larkham (born 29 December 1963 in Griffith) is a retired Australian racing driver, former racing team owner and television commentator. Open wheelers Mark Larkham's first impressions on the national racing spotlight was finishing ...

joining as team manager,

Jason Bargwanna Jason Eric Bargwanna (born 26 April, 1971) is an Australian motor racing driver. Best known as a Supercars Championship competitor, Bargwanna raced in the series for 25 years, the pinnacle of which was winning, with Garth Tander, the 2000 Ba ...

and Orrcon Steel also transferring. Max Wilson drove the second car. In October 2007, Craig Gore was involved in a helicopter accident which caused considerable damage to his inner ear. On medical advice he had been told to avoid any sources of loud noises, thus stopping him from attending V8 Supercar events. Attempts were made to sell the team as a going concern in late 2007 and early 2008 were not successful and it closed in February 2008.

Controversy

In the 2004 Tasmanian Round warm-up session, both cars were black-flagged for having the slogan "No money from Ford" on top of the windscreen. This slogan was deemed unsportsmanlike in the V8 Supercar series. The slogan was to highlight Craig Gore dissatisfaction with Ford, who refused to provide financial assistance.Plains-talking Gore complains of cover-up
''Sydney Morning Herald'' 16 November 2004 Craig Gore's team went on to win a race in the first year at this event, the race win was objected by a number of teams but later granted to Besnard.

Drivers

References

{{Reflist, 2 Australian auto racing teams Sports teams in Queensland Auto racing teams established in 2004 Supercars Championship teams 2004 establishments in Australia Auto racing teams disestablished in 2008 2008 disestablishments in Australia