Asia, here we come as boss leaves with bang
OUTGOING Supercars boss James Warburton has told his staff to “get out your passports’’ after promising to seal a historic race in Asia before he leaves the sport at the end of the year.
Warburton has been working on securing a Supercars championship Asian doubleheader in Singapore and Thai- land. Warburton, who announced he would be joining APN Outdoor to head up the advertising company, has made it is mission to take Supercars into Asia after a race in Malaysia fell through last year because of a legal wrangle between rival promoters.
“James described Asia as unfinished business,’’ a V8 staffer said after Warburton addressed Supercars personnel last night. “And something he wants to get across the line by the end of the year. He is very passionate about taking the sport to Asia and has been working hard on securing deals there for a long time.’’
It is understood Warburton already has agreements in place for Supercars to race at the Singapore Formula 1 GP in a support category capacity, and at Hua Hin in Thailand as a stand-alone event. He may also have negotiated a third agreement for Supercars to replace Formula One and race as a headline act in Malaysia.
All three events will be confirmed in the future pending the necessary funding.
Warbuton is hopeful of locking down the deals before linking with ASX-listed company APN Outdoor Group, an advertising company based in Australia and New Zealand.
“I am extremely excited to be back in the media industry, a sector I am passionate about,” Warburton said.
Warburton’s exit yesterday sparked an angry response from former Supercars boss and Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane, who claimed the sport may now “finally” be well run due to Warburton’s impending exit.