Lubricants firm in talks to extend sponsorship of touring car champion Lea Wood

British touring car champion Lea Wood has paid a visit to thank one of his sponsors in Shrewsbury and to discuss support for 2014.

Hereford-based Wood was crowned the first winner of the Jack Sears Trophy at Brands Hatch GP circuit in October as he concluded the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship by winning two of the final three races. The Jack Sears Trophy is a competition designed for the older-style S-2000 cars in the championship.

Wood, 28, who is sponsored by leading Britishindependent oil blender and marketer, Morris Lubricants, left rivals in his slipstream as he ended the season with 18 wins from the 30 races, while his nearest rival recorded just six.

From its base in Shrewsbury, Morris Lubricants supplied all the lubricants for Wood’s S2000 NGTC Vauxhall Vectra

He is now set to step up to compete against champion Andrew Jordan and the other top drivers in an NGTC production car next season, but first has the major task of raising around £150,000 in sponsorship.

“When I started out in this championship four years ago, we had enough money to do two meetings,” explained Wood. “Thanks to the great support that I’ve received, I have been able to carry on competing and become the first winner of The Jack Sears Trophy.

“My next target is to win the overall championship. It’s a big ask but there’s nothing to say that it can’t be done.”

Holding the Jack Sears Trophy, he posed for photographs with workers at Morris Lubricants’ blending plant and thanked managing director Andrew Goddard for the company’s support this year.

“We are in discussions with Lea about extending our sponsorship for next season and I would advise his fans to watch this space for an announcement in the new year,” said Mr Goddard.

“He’s a great ambassador for the sport and definitely one to watch in the British Touring Car Championship next season.

“Morris Lubricants is delighted to be associated with him and look forward to developing our relationship. It was great for our staff to meet him and see the Jack Sears Trophy, which the company helped him to achieve.”

Under the sponsorship deal, Morris Lubricants supplied its portfolio of high quality autosport products to keep Wood’s car running smoothly and on track for victory. These products include X-RPM Competition 10W-50 fully synthetic multigrade motor oil and Lodexol XFS 80W-140 fully synthetic transmission fluid.