RAC Becomes Naming Rights Sponsor For WA Derby

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) has become the new naming rights sponsor of the AFL’s Western Australian derby between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles.

RAC CEO, Rob Slocombe, says the RAC Derby will promote road safety, with a focus on the deadly impact driver distraction and inattention has on the community.

“Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which is why RAC launched the ‘Look Up’ road safety campaign last year to help encourage WA drivers to pay attention on the road and focus on their surroundings,” Mr Slocombe said.

“WA currently holds the unenviable position of the worst road fatality rate of any mainland State in Australia, and this sponsorship will remind Western Australians that we all have a role to play in keeping people safe on our roads.

“With support from the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers football clubs, each RAC Derby will allow road safety awareness to be taken directly to 120,000 spectators each year,” he said.

West Coast Eagles Chief Executive, Trevor Nisbett, said the club is looking forward to supporting RAC’s efforts to reduce the road death toll in Western Australia.

“This partnership presents an opportunity for our club and RAC to reinforce some very important messages around ensuring our roads are safe,” Mr Nisbett said.

“Many families in this State have been impacted by unnecessary deaths on our roads and if we can play a role in raising awareness and reducing that number then we will have met our objective.

“Through our connection with 80,000 members and hundreds of thousands of supporters around the country we hope we can encourage people to concentrate when driving on our roads,” he said.

The first RAC Derby for 2019 between the Eagles and the Dockers is set to take place on Saturday 13 April, with the second scheduled for Saturday 6 July.

In addition to naming rights of the Derby, RAC has also announced a competition for one fan to win 4 tickets to the first Derby (Saturday 13 April), toss the coin to kick off the first Derby, 4 tickets to the pre-Derby launch, a signed merchandise pack for their favourite team and to present the trophy to the winning team’s captain (if their favourite team wins).