In early 2025, Ryan Tomsett Racing (RTR) approached Southdown to develop a professional sponsorship proposal ahead of Ryan’s anticipated move to the Super 2 Dunlop Series. After a standout 2023 season and an impressive start to 2024 in the Toyota 86 series, the timing was right to attract serious commercial partners.

At just 15 years old, Ryan closed out 2023 with a top-10 finish in the championship. That same year, he became the youngest-ever Toyota 86 pole sitter and tied as the youngest race winner in the category, second only to Supercars driver Broc Feeney. He was also awarded the Kaizen Award for continual improvement, highlighting his rapid rise and strong work ethic.

“In 2023 we finished our season with a top 10 finish in the championship at 15 years old.”

RTR is a grassroots, family-run race team made up of 14 close-knit family members, friends and supporters. Every person plays a role in keeping the wheels turning and supporting Ryan to perform at his peak.

Southdown’s initial brief was to create a high-impact sponsorship document that would resonate with brands considering involvement in the 2025 Super 2 Series. But this wasn’t just about asking for support. The document needed to help sponsors make informed, strategic decisions based on audience data, brand alignment and the marketing value that comes from partnering with a rising motorsport talent.

To do that, we didn’t just build a pitch deck. We told a compelling story backed by logic, value, and proof.

During the discovery process, we uncovered a major gap – RTR didn’t have a formal brand identity in place. So, we took it one step further and created a foundational brand system for the team. This included visual identity elements that could be applied across sponsorship proposals, internal documentation, digital assets and social media.

What we delivered

• A professionally designed sponsorship proposal tailored for both print and digital use

• Interactive digital elements to improve engagement and usability

• Data visualisations highlighting audience reach, media exposure and broadcast figures

• Clearly defined sponsorship tiers with placement mock-ups

• A refined brand identity system to help RTR present consistently and credibly

• Career highlights and driver stats presented with a strong visual narrative

This project showcased the value of treating a sponsorship proposal like a strategic sales tool, not just a flyer with a price list. It was also a great reminder that even grassroots teams need professional branding and communication to punch above their weight.