Vodafone Hutchison Australia (SA)
Since Vodafone Australia (now Vodafone Hutchison Australia) became TeamVodafone’s major sponsor in 2007, communikate et al has been in charge of creating memorable events to mark the team’s arrival in Adelaide ahead of the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars race each year, that engages both the media and fans alike.
communikate et al’s involvement in the events varied, ranging from publicity and media management to everything from concept creation and development, planning, event management and media drops.
Each event received extensive media coverage as well as plenty of hype around the team’s arrival in Adelaide in the lead up to each Clipsal 500, making TeamVodafone the most visible team in town for five years running – despite an intense competition for media space around the V8 Supercars, and all other events during Adelaide’s Mad March, including the Fringe Festival and WOMADelaide.
2007 – TeamVodafone Pit Stop Challenge
In 2007 communikate et al created and developed the TeamVodafone Pit Stop Challenge, which saw Port Adelaide Football Club players, media personalities and TeamVodafone fans battle it out to be the fastest to change a tyre ‘pit stop style’.
The event, turned around from concept to execution in less than a month, was held in front of hundreds of fans and introduced TeamVodafone and its drivers, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup with a bang.
2008 – GoKart Racing
2008 saw the TeamVodafone drivers return to their racing roots, taking to the GoKart track to race against Port Adelaide Football Club stars Warren Tredrea, Michael Pettigrew, Daniel Motlop and Domenic Cassisi, as well as six local TeamVodafone fans.
2009 – TeamVodafone Pit Stop Challenge returns
Back by popular demand, the TeamVodafone Pit Stop Challenge returned in 2009, but this time drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup formed their own team to take on the fans and Port Adelaide footballers Josh Carr and Brendon Lade.
2010 – Blessing of the car
2010 marked the team’s first race in a Holden Commodore on Australian soil since it made the move from Ford at the end of the 2009 season, and out of this, the idea of the blessing of the car in the ‘City of Churches’ was born.
The TeamVodafone Holden Commodore and drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup were blessed by Father Dean Marin at Mary MacKillop Plaza, in front of Adelaide’s majestic St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, in the heart of city, surrounded by fans and supporters.
2011 – Grape Stomping Challenge
Marking TeamVodafone’s fifth Clipsal 500 event, 2011 was a suitable year to launch the team’s special edition wine, the TeamVodafone Champion’s Drop, crafted by South Australian wine maker Geoff Merrill.
Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, supported by local fans, battled each other in a grape stomping competition at the iconic Adelaide Central Market, crushing grapes in large barrels in front of a crowd of fans, onlookers and media.
The event not only attracted exceptional media attendance and coverage, but pre-event publicity also drew more than 70 fans to Mary MacKillop Plaza. 