BMW Team UK partnership with Crowne Plaza
Triple world crown boost for touring car ace, Priaulx
BMW Team UK signs new partnership deal with Crowne Plaza
With the start of the FIA World Touring Car Championship season just over a week away, Britain’s double FIA World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx, will be looking to rewrite motorsport history in his bid to become the only British racing driver ever to win three consecutive FIA world titles. To boost his campaign, he today unveiled an exciting new partnership agreement on behalf on Team BMW UK with the world-leading InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
The WTCC sits alongside Formula One and the World Rally Championship (WRC) as one of only three world titles awarded by the FIA, the governing body of world motorsport. This year’s WTCC season which begins in Curitiba, Brazil on March 11 sees two additional rounds, four new circuits and new race regulations including the introduction of a rolling start for Race 1 and a reduction of the maximum ballast weights from 80kg to 60kg.
New venues on the race schedule for 2007 include Zandvoort, Netherlands and Anderstorp, Sweden along with the introduction of two new street circuits in Pau, France and Porto Portugal. Brands Hatch, UK will play host to Rounds 17 and 18 on September 23.
Speaking at a media event at City Golf Club in central London, Priaulx commented: “The team has been working incredibly hard ahead of the season, the car feels great and I’m really looking forward to going out and competing again. It’s great to see the introduction of two extra races and some new circuits this season. I’ve always performed well on the streets of Macau so I’m especially excited about the added street circuits in Pau and Porto. To win a third world title would be incredible.”
Priaulx (32, Guernsey) will once again represent Team BMW UK, run by Team RBM, under team boss, Bart Mampaey. Competing in the BMW 320si WTCC alongside four international BMW teammates, Priaulx will also be looking to help BMW secure a hat trick of consecutive WTCC Manufacturers’ titles. Representing BMW Team Germany will be Jörg Müller (GER) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) whilst Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Félix Porteiro (ESP) will race for BMW Team Italy-Spain.
Peter Walker, General Manager, Sports Marketing, BMW (UK) commented: “We’re immensely proud of Andy and all that he has already achieved. We are excited to welcome Crowne Plaza on board as the primary team partner for what promises to be a thrilling season in pursuit of both a driver and maunfacturers’ world championship hat trick.”
The partnership agreement will feature the Crowne Plaza brand on both the BMW Team UK race car and on Andy’s race clothing.
Colin Roy, Vice President of Marketing and Pricing, EMEA IHG commented: “Teaming up with BMW UK illustrates our commitment to giving Crowne Plaza stakeholders the opportunity to get involved in some of the most exciting lifestyle events throughout the world. This is a real opportunity to give the Crowne Plaza brand even greater visibility both among customers, hotel owners, franchisees and investors. We are looking forward to supporting Andy and enhancing both national and local partnership activity between Crowne Plaza hotels and BMW.”
Andy on the podium at Crowne Plaza sponsorship press launch
Andy with (l to r) Adrian White (IHG), Peter Walker (BMW UK), Nick Barton (IHG)
