Jan 12 – Tony Cochrane Doesn’t Often Back Losers
Posted on January 12, 2017 Tags: Chris Atkinson Red Bull Global Rallycross
And Neither Does Former World Rally Championship Star,
Chris Atkinson!
ATKO has just signed with Subaru to a complete season in the US-based 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) series.
He becomes the first Aussie to compete full time in the series that has captured the attention of fans across the globe with its high octane, action-packed stadium racing format featuring 12 other 600bhp beasts going doorhandle-to-doorhandle.
He makes his debut with the crack squad this year in April joining Swedish gun Patrik Sandell. One of Red Bull GRC‘s top drivers.
“The guys are working so hard at our Vermont base in the off-season to really give Patrik and I something very special to drive in 2017.”
It’s a sport that’s been around for yonks – back in the 70s racing icons Peter Brock and Colin Bond competed in Rallycross. But in recent times it has gone viral, drawing serious attention of a legion of followers.
Atko competed in the final four 2016 events with Subaru Rally Team USA, bringing home their first first pole position in the WRX STi GRC Supercar – at the Los Angeles round.
And Tony Cochrane, current chairman of the Gold Coast Suns AFL team and director of International Entertainment Consulting, is the man holding the reins of Red Bull GRC in Australia.
Last year the ex-V8 Supercars supremo TC was appointed an advisory board member to Red Bull Global Rallycross – reportedly the second-highest-rated motorsport on US television.
TC is the man who crafted the transformation of that ailing sport into a spectacle now recognised as the best touring car series in the world.
“Red Bull GRC is terrific,” he said. “It’s a great sport, great people and it’s fun and still in its early days. It reminds me a lot of the early days of V8s, but in a much bigger market.”
Arch promoter Cochrane and his partners – including wife Thea – have an extraordinary record during the past 20 years. They’ve produced or promoted more than 400 sporting, and entertainment events across the globe sold an incredible 25+million tickets with gross sales of exceeding $2+ billion and written nearly $250 million in sponsorship sales.
As is often reported about TC, that’s not bad for a kid who never finished high school!
The man is a visionary, and there’s little doubt the pressure he has applied over the years has resulted in vastly improved motor racing facilities across Australia.
Like TC, Atko doesn’t back losers. And his re-entry to the global stage is well-timed.
As I’ve said before, you can bet Red Bull Global Rallycross will be heading Down Under.
When TC considers the time is ripe.
Edited by AC
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