Luxury Australian department store Harrolds has launched the Harrolds Racing Team as part of the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing.
The team helps Harrolds expand its experiential opportunities for its customers and also sees it tap into a previously untapped business opportunity.
Through a personal passion for motorsports and racing, Harrolds MD, Ross Poulakis set out to curate the Harrolds Racing Team.
"The Harrolds Racing Team came from the idea of us having a lot of fun driving on the track and having a passion for motorsport," Poulakis said.
"It’s such a rich opportunity to align the Harrolds brand with a new luxury category.
"As a little kid, I recall sitting in my dad’s Mercedes-Benz and pretending to drive it. My interest stemmed from this memory," he said.
Joining Poulakis on the team is third generation racing driver, driving coach, stunt driver and grandson of three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham, Sam Brabham.
The pair recently completed the opening round of the GT World Challenge Australia in Phillip Island, placing first in the GT4 category on both Saturday 19 and Sunday 20th of March.
Poulakis added that the business sees strong alignment between the retailer's customers and those interested in motorsport racing.
"Motorsport was an untapped area that we hadn’t been involved in before as a business, but I saw a lot of our clientele participating in and loving it.
"Those who watch and attend the GTWC race days have high interests in premium motor vehicles, and are assumed to live a luxury lifestyle.
"We’re endeavouring to bring luxury experiences to motorsport, in a way that hasn’t been done before," he said.
Harrolds cars that will be racing in 2022 include the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and AMG GT3 EVO.
In future races, Poulakis will be joined in the driver’s seat by Peter Hackett, Australian Endurance Championship GT race driver and driving instructor.
Potential upcoming races for the team include the Bathurst 12hr, Shannons Motorsport Australia Championship and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
"After our recent success, the Harrolds Racing Team has firmly has firmly cemented itself on the world’s motorsport racing circuit," Poulakis added.
The business is also inviting sponsors to get involved in the team.
