HSV Dealer Team reveal new title sponsor, livery.

The Holden Special Vehicles Dealer Team has announced their brand-new partnership with 2006 joint naming-rights sponsor Toll Holdings, in a move that team and manufacturer bosses hope to propel the two-time Bathurst winners to a permanent field leading position.

On Monday night in Melbourne the 2006 Toll HSV Dealer Team was launched. With the revised paint scheme resplendent in Toll's familiar orange branding, with related sponsors Orix and Fuso Trucks also appearing on the car.

Kelly Racing Team, the operation base of team owners John and Margaret Kelly, has now built a team with significant financial support. Following the departure of Kmart Department Stores at the end of 2004, Holden Special Vehicles and its Dealer divisions joined on as naming rights sponsors for the KRT. Originally intended as a temporary arrangement, drivers Garth Tander and Rick Kelly overcame early teething problems to recently help the team to their first win under the HSV banner (Tander was victorious at Symmons Plains).

Now Toll joins HSV Dealers and Holden as a principal backer for the Clayton team. Team Principal John Kelly spoke optimistically of the future possibilities his outfit can reach with Toll support.

"Like us, Paul Little (Toll Holdings Managing Director) and his team like to win," he said.

"Together, we intend to deliver the strongest partnership in V8 Supercars. This season started out as a tough one for our team, but thanks to the support of Holden, the HSV Dealer Network and our other sponsors, we have made great progress, culminating in Garth's win and Rick's third placing at Symmons Plains last week. With the combined support of Toll, Holden, HSV Dealers and our other sponsors in 2006, we intend to ensure that progress not only continues but accelerates."

Paul Little, who has sponsored Anthony Tratt's small privateer outfit since Toll Racing first debuted in 1999 with Ford, echoed Kelly's comments. The opportunity to sponsor such championship leaders as the HSV Dealer Team is a natural step in Toll's increased motorsport branding and development.

"There was momentum there from sponsors, employees and our small but passionate team that the time was right for a step up," said Little.

"Toll is a successful company by any measure, and I was very conscious of the need for us to have on-track success or withdraw altogether. Toll couldn't wish to a join a more competitive and professional team. We expect to be very competitive and successful."

The HSV DT boasts a large supporter base and an increasing amount of interest after significantly improving their results following Hidden Valley, midway through 2005. The former Kmart squad has developed their ex-Holden Racing Team Commodores in leaps and bounds, considering their lowly results earlier in the year. With Toll support in 2006, the team will be expected to contend for round wins and could certainly contend for the V8 Supercar Championship. However at this stage, the team's current focus is on the upcoming Bigpond Grand Finale, where Garth Tander and Rick Kelly will compete at their home test track for the final round of the 2005 series.