News
Total Lubricants ready to race with TCR Australia
Total, a major energy player that produces and markets fuels, lubricants, natural gas and low-carbon electricity, will build on its historic association with motorsport as Official Lubricant of the carsales TCR Australia Series in 2020.
Established in France in 1924, Total is the world’s fourth-largest producer of lubricants and is a partner of the world’s leading automotive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) companies, including five brands represented in TCR Australia.
The new major partnership is a strong fit for Total and TCR Australia, ahead of the second season for the globally adopted touring car formula which features purpose-built, racing versions of C-segment hatches and sedans.
While the coronavirus pandemic has delayed the commencement of the TCR season, the Total brand is represented during this hiatus in the carsales ARG eSport Cup with virtual replications of branding that will appear when ‘real world’ racing resumes.
These include Total branding on the doors of every car in the carsales TCR Australia Series, as well as presenting rights of the in-broadcast Total Replay during the Seven Network’s live and free telecasts of TCR Australia. Content pieces branded by Total will also appear across the series’ digital channels.
Total is renowned for its racing heritage which includes multiple World Championship titles in Formula 1. In Australia, Total has been present for more than 50 years and was one of the earliest sponsors of Australian motor racing in the 1960s, when it partnered legendary drivers including Frank Matich and the Geoghegan brothers, ‘Pete’ and Leo.
Details regarding the rescheduled carsales TCR Australia Series will be announced once clarity of ongoing, nationwide mass gathering and border control conditions are established.
Every race of the carsales TCR Australia Series will be televised free-to-air across the channels of Seven in 2020, while the carsales ARG eSport Cup can be viewed weekly at 8pm AEST on Thursdays via the TCR Australia Facebook and YouTube channels.
Antonio Piscone
National Sales & Distributor Manager, Total Oil Australia
“We are very excited to partner with TCR Australia. Racing has always been part of TOTAL’s DNA and the Motorsport industry is a key channel of communication to our most passionate customers.
“Total’s support for TCR expands outside of Australia, with our support of the TCR series in Europe with a fully sponsored Peugeot 308 driven by Julien Briché. As a European company, extending the support to the championship in Australia is a perfect fit and aligns well with the vehicles racing in the championship, a few of whom are our key partners.
“TOTAL is growing rapidly in Australia and this sponsorship represents a great opportunity to expose our brand to the Australian Automotive market. The entire team at TOTAL Oil Australia is looking forward to the start of the season.”
Matt Braid
CEO, Australian Racing Group
“It is a privilege for TCR Australia to welcome a global lubricants brand of Total’s status and quality. Total has been a part of world motorsport for decades, and the synergies between Total and TCR as an international, road-relevant touring car formula are strong.
“Recent weeks and months have been challenging for all Australians and indeed the world, but we remain committed to delivering a great second season of TCR Australia from the earliest and safest resumption date. We look forward to working with Total while continuing to promote our partnership via TCR’s digital platforms in the interim.”