Hino backs Team 18 again in Supercars

After making their presence felt in the opening round of this year’s Repco Supercars Championship, Hino once again featured on the grid in June and July, following Hino Australia’s decision to take on the naming rights sponsorship of Team 18 for three rounds.

Applicable for the Darwin (3 x sprint race), Townsville (3 x sprint race) and Sydney (2 x sprint race, including a night race) rounds, the sponsorship deal saw Hino branding prominently adorn the #20 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Team 18’s Scott Pye, with the deal also seeing Team 18 rebranded as Hino Racing.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Team 18 to see the Hino #20 Camaro back on track. Naming rights opportunities like this continue to deliver results for the Hino brand, our customers and dealers,” said Richard Emery, Vice President of Brand & Franchise Development for Hino Australia, when the deal was announced in early June. “Our relationship with Team 18 is a natural extension of our sponsorship of the Repco Supercars Championship.”

The Hino Australia sponsorship that Emery refers to goes back to 2016 and has been their longest running national sponsorship agreement. Hino serves as the Official Light & Medium Duty Truck and Bus Sponsor for the Repco Supercars Championship, as well as Official Sponsor of the Supercars Recovery Team for Supercars-promoted events.

The truck brand’s presence in Australia’s premier motorsport category also includes the ‘Hino Hub,’ hosted by Hino Ambassador Neil Crompton, that presents statistical updates and race day information during TV broadcasts.

Hino’s support of Supercars was extended for another four years back in 2021, meaning Hino will remain as a partner of the Repco Supercars Championship until the end of 2025.

“Hino has been an invaluable partner to our team, and we are grateful for their continued support, and that of our other partners," said Charlie Schwerkolt, Founder and Owner of Team 18.

Team driver Scott Pye added that it was fantastic to have Hino back on the car after the first round in Newcastle, where his best finish was a seventh. The Hino livery for the June/July rounds included a special indigenous-themed treatment for the Darwin round.

Across the three rounds with Hino branding, Pye achieved multiple Top 12 results, with a best finish of sixth in the first race at Townsville.