Tabitha Ambrose confirms Pirtek-backed Formula Ford campaign

Two synonymous names in Australian motorsport will team up on the racetrack in 2025.

Tabitha Ambrose has revealed her Pirtek Racing Spectrum ahead of the opening round of the Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series at Winton.

Ambrose’s program reunites her family with Pirtek after father Marcos won back-to-back Supercars titles in the company’s familiar blue, red and yellow corporate colours.

Now the next generation Ambrose will hope to replicate this success in Formula Ford as she continues here ascension up the motorsport ladder following a stint in Hyundai Excels.

To honour Pirtek’s 45th year, Ambrose will race with the number during her campaign and a special TabithaAmbrose45 logo has been developed.

“To have PIRTEK as the naming rights partner on our new Formula Ford and be announced as a PIRTEK ambassador is an incredible honour at this stage of my career,” said Tabitha.

“It is also humbling to be carrying the number 45 in PIRTEK’s 45th anniversary year.

“Obviously I was not even born when dad won the Supercars championships in the PIRTEK Falcon for SBR, but that era was a memorable one for Ford fans and there is not a day go by where I don’t see images of that car or have someone want to talk to me about it.

“While I want to win like everyone else out there, and that is our goal, no one is pressuring me with unrealistic expectations - within the team or outside of it.

“I feel like I am winning by just being out there, learning and being on this journey.

“I also understand that I am a female in what has been regarded as a man’s world, but as far as I am concerned I am just a racer doing everything I can to be competitive.

“I have an enormous amount to learn about all aspects of this sport and that will continue as I take each new step in my career.

“I am incredibly grateful to be in the position where I can go racing with my family and now do that with a first-class sponsor in PIRTEK.

“We are already working with the PIRTEK team on some wonderful internal and external programs which are teaching me so much about business and relationships.

“It is a pretty special feeling each time I pull on the PIRTEK Racing suit or team shirt and I know it brings a bit of a smile to dad’s face.”

The Ambrose family hold a string lineage in Formula Ford through grandfather Ross being one of the founders of successful chassis manufacturer Van Diemen and Marcos being a European champion in 1999, two years after he was runner up to Garth Tander in the Australian title.

“The relationship I have had with the PIRTEK brand, the Duncan family and company management, including former CEO Stephen Dutton, goes well beyond anything of a commercial nature,” said Marcos.

“It is built on trust, respect and shared passion.

“PIRTEK have been an incredible supporter of Australian and international motorsport for almost three decades and to have been in a position to reward them with two Supercars championships (2003, 2004) remains one of the true highlights of my career.

“I was constantly reminded that PIRTEK would be enthusiastic supporters of Tabitha if she chose to pursue a full-time motorsport career, but there were several personal hoops we had to jump through before having a serious discussion.

“Tabitha is passionate about the sport, has been prepared to do the hard work in and out of the car over the last couple of years and is not afraid to get her hands dirty and that’s why we are in the position we are today.

“It is quite humbling to see the covers taken off the PIRTEK Formula Ford today and to have so many of the PIRTEK family on the ground with us.

“We are looking forward to the next chapter in Tabitha’s journey this year, but there are no crazy expectations from any of the stakeholders.

“We want to do everything as professionally as we can for ourselves and our partners, learn more every time we head to the track and ensure we have plenty of fun along the way.”

Marcos Ambrose Motorsport will be supported by team manager Adam Macrow in what is a twin-attack on the Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series, with Brad James driving a second Spectrum.

The opening round of the Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series is at Winton Motor Raceway on February 28-March 2 as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.