Wendy’s revs up for debut Taupō event

Macauley Jones’ #96 Supercar will debut a brand-new look for the Taupō Super400 later this week with the iconic global hamburger brand, Wendy’s.

The Brad Jones Racing-run Camaro will feature the hamburger chain’s famous cameo character logo – the little red-headed girl with pigtails – as the Supercars Championship returns to New Zealand for a sell-out event at Taupō International Motorsport Park.

There are more than 20 Wendy’s restaurants located across New Zealand, spanning from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south.

Flynn Group, which last year acquired BJR’s sponsor Pizza Hut Australia, signed a master franchise agreement with The Wendy’s Company to develop 200 Wendy’s restaurants in Australia in the coming years. 

Together, the restaurant brands have collaborated on a Wendy’s branded Supercar ahead of the massively anticipated Taupō event to expand Wendy’s presence in motorsport.

At the last round of the championship, BJR stable-mate Andre Heimgartner carried the legendary Wendy’s logo on the bonnet of the #8 Camaro.

At Taupō this week, Wendy’s will come out of the garage flying with a full livery on Jones’ steed in front of the Kiwi fans.

Wendy’s has sponsorship ties across motorsport with NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing showcasing the branding across their Xfinity and Cup cars, including on NZ expat Shane van Gisbergen’s Camaro. 

For 25 years, Wendy’s sponsored acclaimed drivers including Americans Jerry Coons Jr, Sammy Swindell and Alex Bright, and Kiwi Graham Standring in the midget car division at Western Springs Speedway in Auckland and other tracks across the US and Australia.

Wendy’s is also a proud sponsor of one of New Zealand’s finest, NRL team the One New Zealand Warriors.

Wendy’s restaurants in New Zealand have been operated by the Lendich family since 1988 – representing a strong 35-year track record of delivering exceptional brand experiences to Kiwi fans and customers across the country.

Supercars will be on track at Taupō from Friday the 19th for practice at 12:55 NZST/10:55 AEST ahead of the two races this weekend.

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Macauley Jones

Supercars driver, #96 Wendy’s Camaro

“Not only are we heading over to New Zealand again, to a new circuit and in front of a full crowd of Kiwi fans - we’re going to debut a sweet looking car.

“The full Wendy’s look is just awesome, I’m so stoked with how it’s turned out.

“Taupō is set to be one of the best events of the year and the way the Kiwi fans have reacted just shows how much the category was missed last year. I can’t wait to get on track in the Wendy’s machine and get a proper taste of the circuit in a Supercar.

“We’ve seen just how cool Wendy’s looks on a NASCAR Camaro with Trackhouse and now it’s our turn. It is pretty surreal to take this livery to NZ while SVG is racing on the opposite side of the world in a Wendy’s branded car at Talladega.”

Danielle Lendich

CEO, Wendy’s New Zealand

“After seeing Wendy’s race across international circuits, we are thrilled to make our mark at the Taupō Super400 and deepen the brand’s motorsport ties in New Zealand. We look forward to cheering on Macauley’s #96 Wendy’s Camaro and share our passion with Supercars and Wendy’s fans alike across the globe.”

Phil Reed

CEO, Pizza Hut Australia

President, Flynn Group, Pizza Hut Australia and Wendy’s Australia 

“As the proud sponsor of Brad Jones Racing in Australia, we can’t wait to share the good times with our New Zealand Supercars fans once again. It was a pleasure to collaborate with the Wendy’s team to represent the very best of New Zealand, with BJR ready to unleash the iconic Wendy’s Camaro at the Taupō Super400.”