New sponsor for V8 giant Triple Eight could entice Casey Stoner

CASEY Stoner may have another reason to start racing V8 Supercars with his current personal sponsor set to be the main backer for Triple Eight.

CASEY Stoner may have another reason to start racing V8 Supercars with his current personal sponsor set to be the main backer for Triple Eight Race Engineering's Holden team.

Triple Eight on Wednesday confirmed a deal with energy drink Red Bull with current sponsor Vodafone finishing at year's end following a six-year association.

With Red Bull already backing the current Moto GP world champion Stoner and the Honda rider having announced his intention to retire at the end of the current year his links to V8 racing are likely to intensify.

Stoner has been spotted in Triple Eight garages when returning to Australia, including at last year's season-ending event in Sydney where Jamie Whincup secured his third title.

He has previously expressed a desire to switch from two wheels to four, having tested V8s before.

If Stoner was to make the move to V8s it is likely he would start in the development series to find his feet.

Red Bull Australia's managing director Jason Sargent said the move was a natural one for the company, who sponsor several motorsport teams worldwide including Mark Webber's Red Bull Racing Formula One team.