Bridgestone Pays Tribute to Mark Skaife
The management of Bridgestone Australia Ltd Group - Australia's leading tyre manufacturer, retailer and distributor - has paid tribute to Mark Skaife, who took the wheel for his final V8 Supercar race at the weekend after announcing his retirement from the sport earlier this year.
Skaife's achievements have made him one of the sport's greatest champions, with a record-equalling five Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championships (tied with Ian Geoghegan and Dick Johnson).
He also won five Bathurst 1000 titles and a record 40 Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championship round victories. Skaife also won three consecutive Australian Drivers' Championships (1991-93).
Bridgestone has been behind Skaife for much of his career, including its current role as sponsor of the Holden Racing Team cars driven by Skaife and reigning champion Garth Tander.
"Mark has been a fantastic ambassador for Bridgestone over the years and has brought a great deal of enjoyment and pride to the Bridgestone network," said Shawn Hara, Chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Australia Ltd.
"On behalf of everyone at Bridgestone, I would like to congratulate Mark on an outstanding career and I'm sure he will continue to be just as successful in his life after racing."
Skaife's final race for HRT at Sydney's Oran Park Raceway at the weekend was held after an emotional lap of honour, with both Holden and Ford fans rising to pay tribute. Skaife later admitted to a few tears on the warm-up lap, before coming home in a solid 12th place in the third and last race of the weekend.
It was a momentous weekend for other reasons, with Ford's Jamie Whinchup wrapping up the 2009 V8 Supercars title with victory in the first race. However, outgoing champion Garth Tander salvaged some pride for Holden, with the Bridgestone-backed driver taking the round win after victory in race two and second place in race three.
Bridgestone Australia Ltd. is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the largest tyre manufacturer in the world, and employs more than 1500 at facilities around Australia including 600 at its major tyre manufacturing plant in Salisbury, South Australia. Bridgestone Australia Ltd. is a major supplier to manufacturers such as Holden, HSV, Kenworth and Volvo Trucks, and is a major tyre and service provider to most major transport operators and retails tyres through its primary channels - Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Tyre Centres and Bridgestone Service Centres - as well as other channels.