Motor star Mann seeks new sponsors (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Motor star Mann seeks new sponsors

3:35pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Sport

SHENFIELD-based female racing driver Tania Mann is trying to entice more sponsors on board to enable her to continue living her dream in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.

The Australian is currently on a small mid season break, but hopes to return to the prestigious championship shortly.

She said: “I do hope further sponsorship will be secured for the Carrera Cup this year, as I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am.

“I’m also a strong contender to actually win my class in the championship so I’d hate to throw that away!”

She hopes the popularity of the British Touring Car package, which includes the Porsche, will tempt businesses into using it as another advertising tool.

She explained: “The motorsport industry and in particular Porsche Carrera Cup GB provide a platform for tremendous benefits. “

As the most prestigious single-make series in the UK it has an exposure of over 14 million people on live TV and being the only female in my series I do tend to attract the attention of the media, which is certainly a positive for my business partners.

"Benefits include everything from brand awareness to corporate hospitality and client entertaining.

“I’m also able to offer additional free advertising to my business partners on top of that due to my fantastic partnership with Zoom Media.”

She holds the distinguished title of being the first female to enter regularly in the championship and she has loved every second of it so far.

She said: “I am absolutely revelling in my first season. “I can’t describe my pleasure every time I get into my cup car, whether it’s at test days or race weekends.

“The cars are phenomenal and never fail to amaze with their power and handling. It might sound sad, but if I don't drive my cup car for a week or so I pine to get back out on the track!”

Tania is from Anglesea, which is just south of Melbourne, and gave up the life of sun, sea and sand to relocate to the UK to pursue a career in motorsport, something which was somewhat tougher on the other side of the world.

She said: “I’ve always had an insatiable need for speed and a dream to race or at least drive a car on a race track.

“However, due to financial barriers, I was unable to participate in any form of motorsport (whether it be karting or cars) till I came to London and worked to save up money to buy a half-decent sports car.

“Like many Australians, I came to the UK to explore GB and Europe and I came to settle in Shenfield because of its proximity to London and the convenience of being on the M25, so it’s easy to travel to racing circuits.”

The next round of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is at Snetterton, Norfolk on 11-12 August.