Good news for the ladies, thanks to Vodafone Australia, the men of V8 motor racing have stripped off and greased up for the fastest calendar of the year, Shifting Gear. Proving that it’s not just the grid girls who can bring the heat, V8 Supercar champions from TeamVodafone, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup along with 13 of their crew will get your engine running all year round. Best of all it’s all in aid of the McGrath Foundation so you can make sure you’re doing your bit for charity too!Vodafone Australia is making sure every month is hot and racy with the launch of Shifting Gear, a sexy calendar for 2010, in aid of the McGrath Foundation. As the motoring world’s first calendar for a cause, Shifting Gear will get your engine running all year round, showcasing Australia’s number one V8 Team duo, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup and 13 of their strong and sexy pit team.

The defending V8 Supercar team took time out ahead of their hectic schedule Sydney 500, to participate in the calendar shoot, which aims to assist in the placement of McGrath Breast Care Nurses across Australia, and promotes breast awareness among younger women in Australia.

Craig Lowndes, multiple Bathurst 1000 and championship winner, was eager to be involved and said the work of the McGrath Foundation made an invaluable difference in the day-to-day lives of Australian families.

“The McGrath Foundation does a fantastic job of placing McGrath Breast Care Nurses right across Australia. Living in a regional town I know only too well how hard it can be to get the right medical assistance when you need it, so this is something I am very passionate about. It was also a lot of fun to step out of my comfort zone and do something like this with the whole team!” said Lowndes.

John Casey, Director of Marketing at Vodafone said, “Vodafone was delighted to partner with McGrath on this initiative. We’re certain TeamVodafone fans will leap at the opportunity to see their idols like they’ve never seen them before, and bring all the passion they have for the sport, to back this worthwhile cause.

“Shifting Gear demanded the Team to step out of their gear and be captured in a way never seen before by their fans or the public, and they did this without any trepidation. We are immensely proud of the enthusiasm and daringness TeamVodafone has showed for this initiative.

“Vodafone is also thrilled to reveal that the TeamVodafone livery will be pink-washed in honour of McGrath, for the entire duration of the Sydney 500. In addition, TeamVodafone has kindly donated a signed bonnet from V8 Supercar champion, Jamie Whincup’s livery, and a signed door from Australia’s favourite V8 Supercar driver, Craig Lowndes’ livery, to be auctioned on Ebay from December 1, 2009, with all proceeds going to McGrath,” added Casey.

Commenting further on the calendar, Chairman and Co-Founder of the McGrath Foundation and cricketing legend Glenn McGrath said everyone at the Foundation was blown away by the support offered by TeamVodafone with the girls being particularly happy with the calendar.

“Everyone at the Foundation had some experience of the power and excitement of V8 motor sports with Team McGrath competing in the SuperCheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October this year and we couldn’t be more excited to see TeamVodafone take it to a whole new level with this calendar.

“While I was actually in India during Bathurst, I had more than one text from the girls on the ground telling me how fantastic the event was and talking about the passion that fans have for the sport and how this was translating into increased awareness of what we do at the Foundation. Initiatives like this calendar though just really step it up and provide that all too important opportunity for everyone to get involved.

Shifting Gear is certainly the best and only calendar in motor sport, and just goes to show there are plenty of real men spread across lots of sport in Australia as, everyone knows, as Jane used to say it takes a real man to wear pink!

Launching December 1, Shifting Gear is available for purchase at Vodafone stores nationally and online at https://store.vodafone.com.au/accessory-team_vodafone_calendar.aspx , for $19.95.