Joining Frode Sundsdal for breakfast in Tønsberg took on a whole different complexion today when he chose the occasion to not only serve up healthy Herbalife Nutrition smoothies to his sponsors but also to unveil his brand new 2021 DAC raceboat in its new colour scheme.

Amongst the invitees were several businesses who have backed the Norwegian racer/ Race Promotor for several season now, including representatives from Vrengen Maritime, Hydroscand, Garage 15 and the BJarøy Gruppen, all eager to hear what he had planned for 2022.

We know how hard securing sponsorship is currently and we are extremely grateful to those who have once again chosen to back us not only with the racing team but also in the events we have planned for Tønsberg this summer.

Whilst his guests were enjoying the hospitality being laid on for them, Sundsdal proudly revealed the DAC in its striking new colour scheme with several new names adorning it, one of which is the BJarøy Gruppen.

PRW spoke to the Norwegian entrepreneur, Andreas Bjarøy about how he became involved with Sundsdal.

I first heard about him when he organised the race in Tønsberg back in 2014. I asked who he was and when they told me that he was crazy I just had to meet him.

Bjarøy has a passion for any sport that has an engine, he himself had raced in the Ferrari Competizioni GT series in his early twenties. Now he is more inclined to support up and coming Norwegian circuit racers. This includes the reigning FIA F3 World Champion Dennis Hauger, who is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing and is also a member of the Red Bull Junior Team.

On his office wall is an image of Hauger, himself and his father Hans Petter, sat astride the race car that took Hauger to the FIA F3 world title.

Now I need to have another image for my wall with Frode holding a trophy, I hope it won’t be too long before that happens.

Geir Melum, the co-owner of Garage 15 is also a sponsor that has a thirst for motor sport having competed in the Norwegian GT3 Championship behind the wheel of an Aston Martin DBRS9.

He’s known Sundsdal for more than ten years now and during that time has often called upon his marketing and social media skills to promote all the aspects of the Garage 15 product range from their workshop tool storage options through to their sandblasting equipment.

Sundsdal gets our message across very successfully, plus we like his positive attitude, so for the foreseeable future we will support him wherever he needs it.

With his sponsors and guests now brought up to speed with his racing schedules, Sundsdal then gave them an update on his plans to hold two events in Tønsberg during August.

The Tønsberg Båtrace 2022 is still very much ‘work-in-progress’ and following today’s successful launch hopes are high that the City of Tønsberg will have a powerboat race in the first week of August. That will be followed a few weeks later by the Tønsberg Poker Run, which unfortunately we had to cancel last year due to Covid restriction.

Last year’s Poker run had over ninety entries including over a dozen Nor-Tech 3600 Supercat each capable of speeds in excess of one hundred miles per hour.

The all-day event will utilise the stunning fjords following a similar course for the 2021 event and during the run participating boats collect five envelopes that contain a playing card each.

These envelopes are opened during a post-run ceremony.

In the Tønsbereg PokerRun, the three best poker combinations are awarded. The worst poker hand is also rewarded with a prize, but the winner must give away that prize to a charity of his choice. The day will conclude with a party in Foynhagen

Images by Chris Davies/PRW and Jon Petter Marthinsen.