Global E-Business Solutions Leader Named Corporate Partner With the West McLaren Mercedes Team; Continues as Title Sponsor for the SAP United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis
Melbourne, Australia — SAP AG (NYSE ADR: SAP) today reported that it was increasing its participation in the world’s leading motorsports racing circuit with the announcement that SAP had become a Corporate Partner with the West McLaren Mercedes racing team. The announcement was made today at the Australian Grand Prix, the first of 17 Formula One events to be held on the 2001 racing circuit.
As a Corporate Partner of the West McLaren Mercedes team, SAP’s logo will be featured prominently on the nose cone of each of the team’s new MP4-16 cars. The SAP brand will also appear on both sides of the faceplate on the helmets worn by the team’s drivers: Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, and Alexander Wurz.
“SAP’s partnership with the West McLaren Mercedes team is a natural synergy – SAP combines speed, precision, and results as the world’s leading e-business solutions provider…many of the same attributes associated with Formula One Racing,” explained Marty Homlish, SAP executive vice president and global chief marketing officer. “We’re thrilled to be extending our relationship with Formula One, exposing the SAP brand at each of the 17 Grand Prix events this year. This racing circuit provides SAP and many of the world’s leading brands the very best opportunity to be seen by hundreds of millions of people across the globe this year.”
SAP United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis
Also, in September, SAP will embark on the second year of the company’s multiyear program as title sponsor of the SAP United States Grand Prix, the only visit by the Formula One circuit to America each year. The event is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the most famous racing venues in the world and the birthplace of motor sports. Last year SAP gained valuable exposure during the event which drew more than 300,000 people to the “Brickyard,” with a global television audience of more than 450 million people in over 50 countries around the world.
This year, the Formula One racing circuit events are:
March 4 Melbourne Australia,
March 18 Sepang Malaysia,
April 1 Sao Paulo Brazil,
April 15 San Marino Italy,
April 29 Barcelona Spain,
May 13 Spielberg Austria,
May 27 Monaco,
June 10 Montreal Canada,
June 24 Nuerburgring Germany,
July 1 Magny-Cours France,
July 15 Silverstone Great Britain,
July 29 Hockenheim Germany,
August 19 Budapest Hungary,
September 2 Spa-Francorchamps Belgium,
September 16 Monza Italy,
September 30 Indianapolis United States,
October 14 Suzuka Japan.
About McLaren: The current company, McLaren International, was formed in September 1980 as a result of the merger between Team McLaren and Project Four, a British company owned by the chairman and CEO of the TAG McLaren Group, Ron Dennis. McLaren has won eleven Driver’s Championships and eight Constructor’s Championships, including the 1998 and 1999 Driver’s World Championship with Mika Hakkinen. McLaren has competed in Formula One since 1966, and has proven to be one of the most successful Formula One teams of all times, with 130 Grands Prix wins. To date, McLaren has raced in 509 Grands Prix. McLaren is the only team to have one four consecutive Driver’s and Constructor’s Championships (1988-1991). In 1995, McLaren entered into a long-term partnership with Mercedes Benz, a company whose pedigree is well established over the past 102 years of competition, both in Grand Prix motor racing and World Championship Sports Cars. McLaren International is located in Woking, England, with expertise supplied by an approximately 350 strong team of designers, engineers and skilled staff, complemented by advanced Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) facilities. More information about the West McLaren Mercedes racing program can be found at www.mclaren.com.
