Bridgestone Congratulates Title-Winner Tander

Bridgestone Australia Ltd. has congratulated Garth Tander on his V8 Supercar Championship after the title went down to the last lap of the season at Phillip Island.

Tander's championship win also represents back-to-back titles for the Toll HSV Dealer Team following Rick Kelly's maiden championship last year.

Bridgestone is a sponsorship partner of the Toll HSV Dealer Team and its drivers.

After a long and hectic season, the scenario at Phillip Island was eerily similar to last year's decider when Kelly and Craig Lowndes were level on points going into the last race.

This time it was Tander and Jamie Whincup who battled it out with Tander taking fourth place in the third and final race of the weekend to edge the Ford driver by just two points.

The championship went right down to the final lap, with Whincup's push for the title falling just 0.8 seconds short with a fighting second-placed finish behind Holden Racing Team driver Todd Kelly, brother of Rick.

Tander won 15 of the 37 races throughout 14 rounds in the 2007 season, finishing with 625 points ahead of Whincup (623), Lowndes (592) and Rick Kelly (552).

'It's been another thrilling season of V8 Supercar racing with the championship again coming down to the very last race of the season,' said Mac Ohashi, Chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Australia Ltd.

'That makes it even more impressive that the Toll HSV Dealer Team were able to go back-to-back in such a tough competition,' he said.

'Bridgestone is proud to be involved with the Toll HSV Dealer Team and, on behalf of our employees around Australia, we'd like to congratulate both Garth and the team on their championship win.'

Bridgestone is also a sponsorship partner of the Holden Racing Team and its drivers Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly.

Bridgestone is the exclusive Original Equipment (OE) tyre supplier for all VE Holden and E-Series HSV models delivered in Australia.