'Sim Factory Phoenix F1' Livery Launch

8 years is a long time to be away from the GPVWC competitor scene, but there's been a lot of work in the background to ensure that the team arrives in a relatively competitive state.

And it's behind the scenes that team boss Andy Graydon and his team have been able to bring on board some real world sponsors from the Sim Racing arena. A press conference was called earlier today to announce details of the teams new Title Sponsor and Race Livery. Graydon explained:-

"As you F1 guys here in the Press Corps may or may not know, I recently took place in the Race2Play Daytona 500k with the ARCA Sim Racing simulation. It was my 100th ARCA race at R2P, and as such you could say I'm a bit of a veteran driver in Stock Cars now - more so than an F1 calibre driver!"

Asked to explain further, Andy was more than keen to provide the media with an insight into the ARCA Sim Racing (ASR) world and how it fits in with the Phoenix F1 team:-

"In most sims there is an element of training protocols in place and every protocol helps a driver in a training scenario. In ASR drivers simply have access to far more training based protocols. ASR has the most in variable quantity (16 degrees of freedom) and realistic vehicle physics/aerodynamics of any sim currently on the market and the result is a more effective training solution for real world drivers or their teams. ARCA SIM RACING is currently used by many amateur drivers as well as top drivers (e.g. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano) in the ARCA RE/MAX, Nascar Nationwide, Camping World Truck and Sprint Cup Series."

"The Sim Factory Development team works hand in hand with drivers in teams both for their purpose as well as the continued development of ASR. Gorilla Customs, a cockpit and simulation hardware development company, which is owned and operated by the same owners of the Sim Factory, have sold and setup cockpits in many race shops, driver and owners homes as well as other facilities across the United States."

Impressive indeed.

"It's my personal links to some of the guys who manage and develop ARCA Sim Racing that have led to an exciting sponsorship logo deal in the GPVWC for the Phoenix F1 team. The Sim Factory produce the ARCA Sim Racing game, under the 'Adrenaline Corporation' main company. Another subsidiary of Adrenaline Corp is Gorilla Customs. These 3 brands all appear on our car for 2013, but Title Sponsor billing goes to the Sim Factory. We've also managed to utilise Race2Play as a minor sponsor for 2013. A true Sim Racing sponsor-fest if ever there was one!"

Discussing the livery, it was confirmed that Spaniard Alberto Alvarez was commissioned to come up with a livery incorporating the main Title Sponsor colours, other sponsor logos and a bit of that blue which Phoenix F1 is probably more famous for in it's liveries. Phoenix rising from the flames was a theme incorporated in the design in a process taking several weeks of to-ing and fro-ing, the final design has only recently been completed.

With special permission granted to run a single lap around the Albert Park circuit (at non-racing speeds, of course), it was Irishman Kieran Ryan who slowly crept out of the pits to greetings from the flashing cameras of the waiting media. As Team owner Andy Graydon and Driver Boyd Bryson watched on, the Sim Factory Phoenix F1 PhF1-05 looked stunning in it's new colours.

Asked about the pre race hype regarding lack of development for the car despite attending all pre-season tests, Graydon smiled and said "Well, in that case we'll qualify in the last two positions and race for the same positions! HRT? I think not. Our drivers have put in a lot of time on the Simulator (kindly donated by Gorilla Customs) and we believe come race day we might well spring a few surprises!"

And with the car returning to pitlane after it's brief outing, drivers and management mingled with Sponsor guests and the media.

Information on Adrenaline Corp; Sim Factory; and Gorilla Customs can be found by visiting the following website:-

http://www.gorillacustoms.com