Casey Stoner may have another reason to start racing V8 Supercars - his current personal sponsor is to be the main backer for Triple Eight Race Engineering's Holden team.
Triple Eight has confirmed a deal with energy drink Red Bull. Current sponsor Vodafone's six-year backing will finish at year's end.
Red Bull already backs Stoner, the current Moto GP world champion, and the Honda rider has said he plans to retire at the end of the year, so his links to V8 racing are likely to intensify.
Stoner has been spotted in Triple Eight garages in Australia, including at last year's season-ending event in Sydney.
He has expressed a desire to switch from two wheels to four, and has tested V8s. If Stoner were to move to V8s it is likely he would start in the development series to find his feet.
