With a new sponsorship deal with Westpoint announced last week, it's an all new look for Dick Johnson Racing in 2005 with the famous Shell livery having left the car. wuqian0821.com's Dave McCowen caught up wit♒h Dick to find out some more.

wuqian0821.com:
The partnership between Dick Johnson Racing and Shell Oil has been one of the few certainties of the V8 Supercar paddock. 🍰It was the longest partnership in the history of Australian Motorsport. What happened?

Dick Johnson:
Well, the Shell Corporation has ♕had a new direction, their business has changed significantly -ꦿ it's been a global change, not something that's just been in Australia.

wuqian0821.com:
Westpoint are a ♕new investor, coming into the sport from the financial sector. Is this an opportunity to push DJR to the front in 2005?

DJ:
It's not only good for DJR, b𓄧ut for Motorsport in general. It's great that companies outside the automotive industry are supporting the series.

wuqian0821.com:
Do you think that their decision to invest in the V8 Supercars could be related to Wright Patton Shakespeare 🐬and the success they have ha✨d promoting themselves in the series?

DJ:
Quite frankly, WPS are insignifཧicant in size compared to Westpoint. They have done a fantastic job introducing themselves to the🌠 public through the series.

wuqian0821.com:
There's a few changes for the team this year. You've taken on Glen൩n (Seton) and you have a new sponsor in Westpoint. Are there any other team♕ changes you're looking to make to build on last year's results?

DJ:
What we've put in place twelve to eighteen months ago is just beginning to take effect. It's shown from halfway through last year, it's the result of a long process - you can't change direction as a team overnight. When you're on a downhill slide, it takes a while to get theඣ brakes on, to get around the corner, and start powering ahead in a new direction.

wuqian0821.com:
And which direction are you aiming for?

DJ:
Certainly to get tꦜowards the front of the pack. We should be able to build on what we have in placওe; to get results from it.

wuqian0821.com:
You certainly did have some good results last ye🦄ar; the thi📖rd place at Sandown was a top effort from the team. What will Glenn bring to the team?

DJ:
G🅠lenn🎃 has an awful lot of experience, he knows what it's like to run a team, he knows how to communicate better with the team and he has a greater appreciation for the car.

wuqian0821.com:
We've se🍨en a lot oܫf changes in the V8 Supercar pack this year; sponsors seem to be coming and going quite a lot. Why do you think this is happening?

DJ:
There's not too many going, and we certainly haven't losღt the Shell Company, they've been on board with us since 1967. There are many more companies coming on board now, th🧔e sport is very healthy.

wuqian0821.com:
Perhaps the sponsorship traffic further in🐓crease as a result of the increasing international profile of the V8 Supercar series?

DJ:
I'm sure it will, once it becomes even more international. The 💦V8 Supercars are available to in excess of seven hundred millionꦏ homes. It's good for the sport and it's good for us.