Walkinshaw Andretti United Partner With NAPA Auto Parts

Walkinshaw Andretti United has announced NAPA Auto Parts will be the naming rights partner of its 2019 Wildcard entry to the Bathurst 1000, officially as NAPA Auto Parts Racing.

TheWAU team, which recently terminated its partnership with troubled naming rights backer Mega Limited, will be piloted by NTT IndyCar Series drivers, Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe in the number 27 NAPA Auto Parts Racing Holden Commodore for the first time at a three-day test at Winton Raceway on October 1-3.

Walkinshaw Andretti United co-team principal, Matthew Nilsson, said he is excited to begin the partnership, and is sure the public will love the look of the car, which will feature NAPA’s blue and yellow, along with Virgin Australia’s red and purple in a livery supported by Ryco, NARVA, Bendix, Prostream, CRC, Monroe and Gates.

“With such an iconic connection to Andretti Autosport and Alexander Rossi, it’s fantastic to have NAPA Auto Parts join us for the Bathurst 1000, especially after being able to witness first-hand the passion for the brand in the United States this year,” he said.

“NAPA Auto Parts may be relatively fresh to the Australian market, but their history over the last 90-years through brands such as Ashdown-Ingram, Appco, Autostop, Covs, Global Auto Parts, R&E and Sulco shows how ingrained they are.

“Alexander [Rossi] and NAPA Auto Parts have shared some amazing achievements together in the NTT IndyCar Series, and we’re really excited about the opportunity to add to that in Australia, at Bathurst, alongside James Hinchcliffe,” Mr Nilsson said.

As the official naming rights partner, NAPA Auto Parts will join previously announced Walkinshaw Andretti United partners Virgin Australia WheresMyConcrete and Polaris Materials’ Orca High-Performance Concrete Aggregates, as the racing team looks to take advantage of their wildcard entry, with the Bathurst 1000 Practice 1 to begin October 10.