Alfa Romeo And The Grand Prix – A Winning Formula

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation announced today (22 March 2007) that it has secured Alfa Romeo as its preferred vehicle supplier for the 2007 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix.

The deal will see the prestigious Italian car maker supplying more than 35 vehicles for both on-track work and to be used as courtesy vehicles.

Tim Bamford, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, is thrilled with the new partnership.

“Alfa Romeo has a long and illustrious motor sport history that is closely linked to Formula One, with the Italian car maker winning the very first Formula One Championship and taking the first post-war title,” said Mr Bamford.

“We’re delighted to welcome Alfa to our family of sponsors and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Alfa’s involvement at the birth of Formula One and its relaunch after the Second World War were integral to creating the world’s leading motor sport series. Today Alfa Romeo is involved in a wide range of motor sport activities, racing its own products in the World Touring Car Championship and supporting the SBK Superbike Championship and the Ducati Racing team.

“With so much of the spirit that drives Alfa Romeo to build stylish performance cars united with its motor sport heritage, forming a relationship with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation as its preferred vehicle partner was a very natural move,” said Lawrie Malatios, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in New Zealand.

“But it’s much more than referencing our motor sport history. With the 2007 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix so popular with New Zealand Motorsport fans, it provides a unique opportunity to place Alfa Romeo’s latest products in front of hundreds of thousands of potential car buyers from both sides of the Tasman who are strongly motivated by the excitement of motor sport and for whom owning a car is much more than mere transport.

“They want to own a car that provides exemplary performance, which has style and which has clear and undeniable links to their heroes on the race track, past and present. Alfa Romeo provides all of this and we believe Alfa’s association with the Australian Grand Prix will play a significant role in lifting Alfa Romeo sales on this side of the Tasman.”

Alfa Romeo’s role in the event will be much more than parading its cars on the track. Its products will provide an essential support service on and off the track and without which the event could not operate.

Alfa Romeo products will provide transport for emergency services and marshals on the track, as well as event managers and officials behind the scenes.

In total more than 35 Alfa Romeos will be provided to the event, primarily the new Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon and Alfa Romeo Brera in their range-topping 3.2 litre V6/four wheel drive versions.

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