12 October 2007
The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport - with South Africans Tony Teixeira as chairman and Pete da Silva as chief executive officer - has scored a major coup by signing a six-year agreement with Ferrari to manufacture and supply all A1GP engines.
The iconic Italian supercar maker will also design and consult on the manufacture of all A1GP car chassis for use in Season Four (2008/09). In addition, Ferrari will supply engines for the new A2GP Series in Season Five.
It is a massive boost for A1GP, which pits nations against nations in identical racing cars around the world.
Licensing agreement
The partnership with Ferrari extends to an exclusive licensing agreement for all A1GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name and phrase "Powered by Ferrari" from January 2008.
"Partnering with a world-class organisation like Ferrari will officially position A1GP as one of the most significant motorsport series in the world," Teixeira said.
At the announcement of the deal, the introduction of A2GP was also announced. It will be a regional single-seat racing car series, developed by A1GP, to begin testing in 2009. Ferrari will be integral to the growth of the new series and will again supply all engines and design and consult on the manufacture of the new chassis.
'Ferrari will add significant value'
"Ferrari will add significant value to our brand, and in our opinion there is no better partner to progress the series," Teixeira said. "We will be meeting with our commercial partners over the next few weeks to discuss the multitude of exciting opportunities that this partnership presents.
"Ferrari has a global presence through its dealer network," Teixeira added. "We will be working closely with them to ensure that they are a part of every A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event."
A1GP CEO Pete da Silva believes securing a deal with the most glamorous brand in the world of motorsport will take A1GP to the next level.
He says the series has a lot to offer Ferrari, taking it into developing markets where it wishes to grow its products.
Signing the deal
Da Silva says an invitation to Ferrari to attend the season-opening event in Zandvoort in The Netherlands did the trick.
He explained that he could see the excitement on the faces of the Ferrari delegation and, moments after the conclusion of the weekend's racing, the famous marque's representatives put pen to paper on a deal that had been four months in the making.
This season, races are scheduled for the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Malaysia, China (twice), New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Mexico and Great Britain.
Countries represented in the series include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.
New concept
Launched in March 2004, the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport introduced a new concept to the sport. Pitting driver against driver and country against country for the first time in history, A1GP brought together together 22 nations to compete as equals, without financial or technological advantage.
One race into its third season - after South Africa's Adrian Zaugg dominated at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, winning two pole positions, the sprint race, and finishing second in the feature race - the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is set to take off.
Its races feature a mix of established world-famous venues plus exciting new state-of-the-art facilities and tight twisty street circuits, including an event in Durban, South Africa.
This season, Durban hosts the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport over the weekend of 22 to 24 February 2008.
SAinfo reporter
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