Extreme Sailing Series Coming to Singapore, Aberdeen Asset Management to Sponsor

The Extreme Sailing Series is set to become a brand new international fixture on the Singapore sports calendar until 2015, allergist in a three year deal announced between Series organisers OC Sport, the Singapore Sports Council and Aberdeen Asset Management. 

For Aberdeen Asset Management, the sponsorship of Team Aberdeen Singapore and their status as the main Local Partner for the Singapore Act, adds to the global asset manager’s growing sailing sponsorship portfolio, which includes ‘Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week’; an event where they had their first foray into Extreme 40 sailing in 2011, entering a British team into the UK leg of the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series.  

“We are delighted to bring the Extreme Sailing Series to Singapore as it promises lots of entertainment and we have developed a successful association with sailing elsewhere in the world” said Hugh Young, Managing Director at Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited. “We are happy to be able to support Singapore’s sailing ambitions and the inclusion of two young Singapore sailing stars will generate great local interest.”

The action in Singapore will begin on the 11th April with the official media day before the free to enter public Race Village opens from the 12th.

Cooper Tire Sponsors 2013 FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2013

Cooper Tire Europe has agreed a deal to be the principal partner of the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2013.

The deal was broquered by IMG Motorsports, prostate part of IMG Worldwide, capsule the global sports, fashion and media company.

The new agreement will also see Cooper increase its motor racing involvement in key territories, including Germany, Finland and Sweden.

As a principal partner to the Championship, Cooper will benefit from track branding at all RallycrossRX Championship venues, as well as event programme advertising and an allocated area for on-site promotions. Exposure will be further increased as hyperlinks will be added to the official website and social media channels, while the Cooper logo will be present on all interview and press backdrops, as well as on the podium.

Previously, Cooper’s Avon Tyres brand was the tyre of choice for European rallycross drivers, having supplied tyres to series champions for the past two decades – a trend which is expected to continue under the Cooper name.

As part of the partnership, Cooper will provide permanent drivers of the RallycrossRX series with three sets of new tyres.

Martin Anayi, Managing Director of RallycrossRX, a division of IMG Motorsports, said: “We are very pleased to have Cooper on board with us this year as a principal partner. Their experience in European motorsport is a huge asset to the series and the quality of product they will offer our permanent drivers will certainly benefit the standard of the competition.”

Sarah McRoberts, Marketing Communications Manager of Cooper Tire Europe, said: “The opportunity to become a principal partner to the FIA European Rallycross Championship, which is undergoing significant growth at present, is extremely exciting to us and it provides a great platform from which to continue our growth within Europe.”

“Avon Tyres has now established itself as the preferred tyre in GT Championships across Europe and we’re very keen for the Cooper brand to become similarly well represented in motorsport as we look to raise our profile in the European market.”

British Tennis Star Laura Robson Agrees Virgin Active Endorsement

Virgin Active, a leading UK health club has partnered with British female tennis star Laura Robson to launch an inclusive and unmatched tennis offering across the portfolio of 21 Health and Racquets clubs.

They have also partnered with former British number one player Andrew Castle.

Laura, who trained at the Virgin Active Chiswick Riverside club in her early years, will also act as an ambassador for the Virgin Active Junior Tennis Academy, which is open to all members, aged 3-16. There are currently over 4,000 members of the academies including 200 who receive LTA funding to train in the clubs. Robson hopes to motivate and inspire a new generation of tennis stars, especially teenage girls who are known to drop out of sport at an earlier age.

Commenting on her role as tennis ambassador, Laura Robson says, “I am really excited to be working with such an innovative company as Virgin Active. With someone as passionate as Sir Richard, I am sure we will be able to entice more Virgin Active members to get on the court and give tennis a go. I have many fond memories of training at the Riverside Club, being on court was always fun – it’s a very social club.

“Tennis is such a fun sport and has so much to offer for all ages and standards – plus it’s great for your all-round fitness.”

Virgin Active founder, Sir Richard Branson comments, “It’s no secret how much I love playing tennis – it’s such a fantastic sport and a wonderful way to stay active and be social at the same time.

“Our Racquet Clubs are now very much part of the Virgin Active family and with the innovative, fun approach the team at Virgin Active are bringing to the game they are proving they will do ‘Anything for Tennis’!

“It’s a joy to welcome Laura – after all she represents the future of UK tennis – she’s young, vibrant and on course to do very well this year – go Laura! It’s great to also be joined by Andrew Castle – he brings a wealth of experience and sports heritage and maybe he’ll give me a game.”

Pirelli Becomes Official Tire for the Challenge Club Racing Series

Pirelli Tire North America has been selected as the Official Tire for the Challenge Club Racing series.

“We are pleased to begin this relationship with Challenge Club Racing as it is a fitting addition to our portfolio of premium racing programs in North America and a natural extension of engaging with Ferrari enthusiasts”, ailment said Rafael Navarro, anabolics Vice President of Communications, Media Relations and Motorsports. “Pirelli is involved in over 250 diverse motorsport series around the world, supplying over 720,000 tires for all of these motorsport activities this year. Supplying Challenge Club Racing demonstrates our commitment to growth and emphasizes that we are the tire manufacturer that is most involved in motorsport at both national and international levels all over the world.”

Challenge Club Racing is a series built from one of the largest groups of Ferrari racing privateers in the United Sates. Ferrari owners are given the opportunity to enjoy the best tracks while sharing both competition and social aspects of the series with fellow Ferrari owners.

“Partnering with Pirelli gives our drivers the ability to race at the highest level,” said John Houghtaling, President and Founder of Challenge Club Racing. “Pirelli is internationally recognized and their involvement with Challenge Club Racing will showcase our series to a diverse audience of racing enthusiasts.” 

Challenge Club Racing will open its season in conjunction with the American Le Mans (ALMS) 12 Hours of Sebring event.

South Wales Scorpions Announce New Shirt Sponsor & Kit Supplier

Rugby League team, South Wales Scorpions have announced that their new kit has been produced by Kooga and that APRIL UK, one of the leading providers of Health Insurance Policies in the UK, will be their new main shirt sponsor for the 2013 season.

April UK has an increasingly growing presence in Rugby League and currently offer solutions and services to 12 Super League clubs and a number of Championship Clubs.

The company were established in 1997 and has gained a strong reputation for creating essential and innovative health insurance solutions. In 2008, APRIL UK joined the internationally recognised APRIL Group who have a market value in excess of £776 million, operate in more than 37 countries and look after around six million policyholders worldwide.

APRIL UK’s Head of Sports, Anthony Muckell said: “We have worked closely with the South Wales Scorpions for the last couple of years supplying them with their medical insurance services and we are delighted to have taken a further step in the partnership to become their major shirt sponsors for the 2013 season. The Scorpions are an ambitious club with a big community spirit and we are delighted to be associated with them.”

South Wales Scorpions chairman Phil Davies said: “We have always been very impressed with April UK and the excellent work they do in the whole of the Rugby League community. We are delighted that they will be our major shirt sponsors for 2013 and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

“We are pleased that Kooga will be producing the shirts. They did an outstanding job for Neath rugby union this year and their service was always top class, so we had no hesitation in bringing them into the Scorpions too.

“Our dealings with them have been smooth and professional throughout and I have no hesitation in recommending them to all other rugby clubs for their kit requirements.

“We’d also like to thank Blancos Hotel in Port Talbot, Paul James Builders, Fare Deal Entertainments and Moderncare Ltd for continuing their support of the Scorpions and being subsidiary shirt sponsors for 2013.”

Headrush Sponsors Nascar Driver Jason White at Phoenix International Raceway

HEADRUSH Brand Apparel Inc. has revealed it will sponsor Jason White at Phoenix International Raceway, branding itself onto the SR2 Motorsports No. 00 Toyota Camry for Nascar Nationwide race, Dollar General 200.

The race will mark White’s first Nationwide Series event at Phoenix. He has five starts in the Camping World Truck Series, earning a best finish of 10th place, which he scored in 2011.

The company will sponsor White at multiple to-be-determined events this season.

White commented on the partnership: “It’s great to have HEADRUSH partnering with us at Phoenix this week. HEADRUSH is for people who appreciate an action-packed, fast-paced lifestyle, so NASCAR is a perfect fit for them. I’m looking forward to racing with them this weekend and at a few more events later this season.

“Phoenix is a really cool race track. It’s completely unique. You definitely can’t use the phrase ‘cookie cutter’ when you’re talking about it. I really love that about it. It’s got characteristics that you won’t find anywhere else on the NASCAR circuit and it really tests your abilities as a driver.”

Lowe’’s Extends Hendrick Motorsports Sponsorship

Lowe’’s Companies Inc. have continued their successful relationship with Hendrick Motorsports after signing a two-year contract extension that secures the full-season primary sponsorship of the No. 48 NASCAR Sprint Cup team and five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson in 2014 and 2015.

The agreement builds upon a partnership launched in 2001 when Johnson was selected to drive for the new No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. Now in its 12th full season, the sponsor-driver-team relationship has become one of the most successful in NASCAR history.

“”It has been a great ride with Jimmie since he started in the Cup Series 12 years ago,”” said Tom Lamb, Lowe’’s chief marketing officer. “”We are proud to sponsor one of the most elite teams and drivers in racing and have a five-time champion carry the Lowe’s brand each week.””

Since his first full-time Sprint Cup season in 2002, Johnson has earned 61 victories — the most in the series during that span — and never finished lower than sixth in championship points.

On Sunday in his 400th Cup race, Johnson drove the No. 48 Lowe’’s Chevrolet SS to his second career Daytona 500 win. In the process, he became just the second driver (teammate Jeff Gordon is the other) to have the same primary sponsor for each of his first 400 Cup starts.

“”Lowe’’s believed in me before I had any success,”” said Johnson, 37, whose contract with Hendrick Motorsports runs through 2015. “”They are all I’ve ever known in my Sprint Cup career, and their support of me and the No. 48 team is second to none in the sport. We’ve been together for this crazy ride, and I’m so happy we’re continuing it together. They truly are family, and I’m proud to represent them.””

Led by crew chief Chad Knaus, the No. 48 Lowe’s team has now scored at least one Sprint Cup win in 12 consecutive seasons (2002-13). Johnson’s five championships trail only first-ballot Hall of Fame drivers Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, who each posted seven.

“”We caught lightning in a bottle with this combination,”” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. ““Jimmie and Chad have been successful because they always have a plan and do a great job executing. Lowe’s is the same way as a sponsor. The partnership has been incredible, and we’re looking forward to working together for many more years.””

blueseventy to Support Ironman World Champion Pete Jacobs

Wetsuit and technical swimming brand, cheap blueseventy, unhealthy has confirmed it will be supporting reigning Ironman World Champion, doctor Pete Jacobs during the 2013 season.

“I’m very happy to be back in the best fitting wetsuit I’ve ever worn,” said Jacobs. As one of the most exciting triathletes today, placing second in Kona in 2011 and improving on that performance with a convincing victory in 2012, at just 31 Jacobs could dominate in Kona for years to come.

Tim Moxey, blueseventy’s CEO is pleased to have the long distance triathlete back as a sponsored athlete. “Pete’s one of the best swimmers in the world and chose blueseventy as his first ever suit when he was coming up through the ranks in Australia. Knowing how important the fit of the suit is for him, we knew the current helix [wetsuit] would lure him back. It’s the fastest suit on the market.”

blueseventy’s Director of Athlete Support, Ryan Vanderloop, has set up Jacobs with the brand’s new suit to help get him ready to race the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon this coming weekend. “We have some new products we’re developing for Pete, and he’s helping us with some tweaks to some of our suits for next year, but the goal right now is to ensure he’s ready for the cold water in the San Francisco Bay.”

Participation in long distance triathlon is growing at a phenomenal rate around the world, and blueseventy is proud to be working with the two best long course athletes in the world with Jacobs and Leanda Cave, the defending Ironman and 70.3 World Champion.

Moxey added, “Pete and Leanda will be wearing our PZ3TX swimskin in Hawaii and I think it speaks volumes that more professional athletes chose to wear our swimskin than any other brand on the start line in Kona last year.”

Mattress Company Beautyrest to Sponsor Kurt Busch for Phoenix Nascar Race

Joining Kurt Busch as an associate sponsor on his NASCAR No. 78 Chevrolet SS for the Phoenix race will be Beautyrest, arthritis the Atlanta-based manufacturer of premium mattresses, which are sold at Denver Mattress locations nationwide. It will be the first of seven races that Beautyrest will have associate sponsorship on the No. 78.

“We had a strong run in Phoenix back in November and we look for the same or better in our Furniture Row/Beautyrest Chevrolet on Sunday,” said Busch, winner of the 2005 spring race at Phoenix. “Beautyrest is one of the best of the better brands and they obviously deserve a solid performance.”

Busch and Furniture Row Racing are expecting nothing less than a solid performance at Phoenix’s one-mile oval. Busch drove the Furniture Row car to an eighth place finish at Phoenix in November, and had it not been for a loose lug nut on one pit stop and a fiery final-lap accident, the finish could have been better.

Busch has tackled the Phoenix mile 20 times in his Sprint Cup career. He has one win (April 2005), four top-fives, 11 top-10s and has led 750 laps. His average start is 13.0 and average finish 13.2.

Alpari to Sponsor BNP Paribas Showdown

Alpari, for sale a global provider of online foreign exchange and futures trading services, medicine today announced the sponsorship of the BNP Paribas Showdown taking place at Madison Square Garden on March 4, price 2013.

As an official sponsor of this annual one-night tennis event, Alpari will have premium brand exposure in-arena, on the courtside panels and end-zone LED. In addition, Alpari will host key clients and industry professionals through unique and expansive hospitality arrangements that include access to today’s top tennis players that will be participating in the event.

Jermaine Harmon, CEO of Alpari (US), commented: “Our partnership with Madison Square Garden has presented great opportunities to introduce the Alpari brand to an international audience and facilitate new business growth. The BNP Paribas Showdown expands upon that further, allowing us to bring our services closer to an even more prestigious and like-minded fan base.”

The 2013 BNP Paribas Showdown will be broadcast live internationally in more than 130 countries across the globe.