This was the scene last week as the third Mosler GT3 was being loaded onto the truck to Heathrow London for its flight to Sydney Australia to new owner and new Mosler Distributor John Briggs.
John has been joined on the technical side of the Mosler by Mark Roberts, who was responsible for getting the first two Teulan cars down under, and recently spent 3 weeks at Mosler Europe becoming even more acquainted with the car.
The Australian GT Championship is enjoying a huge influx of competitors for the 2010 season, and have had to limit the entrants from each chassis manufacturer.
Ash Samadi has ordered the 4th Mosler Chassis (to be run by Mick Michell at Corse Automotive), due for delivery in late October, and John Briggs has ordered the 5th, which will be sold from his new Mosler Australia concern.
Martin Short, Mosler Europe CEO: ” Its been very rewarding for us here at Mosler Europe that Australian GT recognises the value, low running costs, and stunning looks that the Mosler brings into their Championship. They are not afraid of it, they can handle the parity and equalisation, calmly, and they recognise the National GT Homologation that we have in GT3.
We are really stoked about the thought of having 5 Moslers next year down under, in what now must be the strongest National GT Championship in the world. They have a great race format, and strong leadership. It bodes well for the future of GT Racing and indeed Mosler.”
Picture shows the car ‘shortened’ to allow it to fit in the hold of 747.
Please note Press release from John Briggs below.
BRIGGS MOTORSPORT BACK IN THE BIG TIME WITH AUSTRALIAN GT
Former Australian Sports Sedan Champion and V8 Supercar team owner John Briggs is set to raise the bar in professionalism and presentation in the Australian GT Championship following his purchase of a new Mosler.
“I want to have one more serious crack at a Championship before I retire gracefully and the Australian GT Series is the place to do it’, Briggs said today.
“It’s an effective Championship and they know how to run it. Nobody wants to invest half a million dollars in a GT3 car and then have it de-valued because the Series fails. This has happened with other categories when the writing has been on the wall and nobody addresses the issues. GT is not like that, and in fact I would like to have shares in the business”.
The astute former V8 Supercar team owner who brought huge profile to the public for companies such as Supercheap Auto, Caterpillar, and Betta Electrical and created the platform for what is today Team Vodafone is also extremely positive about the commercial opportunities for the Australian GT Championship.
“GT has a special appeal. It can deliver to a vast audience of people who like cars and the different makes and models that compete in the Championship. It’s inspirational.
I’m not critical of V8 Supercars, but that’s a market for diehard Holden and Ford fans whereas GT can deliver to a very wide audience and can engage in a corporate and sponsorship sense with organisations that can leverage the prestige and diversity of the GT product”.
Briggs also noted that “GT’s cost a fraction of the budget of a V8 Supercar team and therefore could deliver sponsorship benefits in a very cost effective manner”.
As for his choice of the Mosler, Briggs said that was based on the cars he has really enjoyed in the past. Machines like the Ralt open-wheelers, the sports sedans, and the Veskanda.
Further, with John Teulan’s decision to step back from the sport, Briggs Motorsport has also taken on the Australian distributorship for Mosler race and road cars.
Briggs Motor Sport team manager, Mark Roberts (formerly John Teulan Racing) is currently at the Mosler factory in England overseeing the construction of the Briggs’ car that he will debut at Bathurst in October.
Roberts is also overseeing the construction of two additional new Moslers, one that has already been purchased by a soon to be announced former Carrera Cup competitor, while the third car will be brought to Australia to be either leased or sold.
Martin Short from Mosler UK said today that he was delighted to announce the new Australian distributorship arrangement:
“John Briggs is well known to us here in the UK from his days as owner of the Briggs Motorsport V8 Supercar Team.”
Terry Little, Australian GT said today that John Briggs was a very welcome addition to the growing Australian GT family:
“Not only is he (John Briggs) a very good driver but he brings to the Championship an impeccable record from V8′s of securing and servicing blue chip sponsors.”
Source : Martin Short