With strong tailwinds into the next season: Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE is setting its sights on clinching top positions in the Audi MedCup this year. In addition, the company has made a long-term commitment to support the Kieler Woche and the German national sailing team.
- Audi Sailing Team to contest Audi MedCup and TP52 World Championship
- Partnership with Kieler Woche extended until 2013 season
- Young sailors of Sailing Team Germany to be developed for pro class
It was a dream start as premium partner for the Kieler Woche: More than three million guests turned out to visit the sailing regatta in Germany’s far north – over 1,000 of them took advantage of the opportunity to test drive Audi models ranging from the A1 through to the Q7. On top of what was a sensational debut in every respect the Audi A1 Team, a boat of the TP52 class with a mixed crew consisting of professionals and customers, clinched first place in the German Ocean Sailing Championship.
“It was a logical step for us to extend our commitment to the Kieler Woche and to make an even more prominent appearance in the future,” says Bastian Kaltofen, Head of Trade Fairs, Events and Sport Marketing of AUDI AG. Last year the A1 was an eye-catcher on Rathausplatz (the square in front of Kiel’s city hall), and in 2011 the brand will deliver an even more elaborate presentation in Kiel’s inner city. A separate appearance by Audi at the Kieler Yacht-Club is planned as well.
The agenda has also been set for the Audi MedCup: After a “rookie year” in 2010 and a more then respectable seventh place overall of the Audi Sailing Team in the “Champions League of Sailing” the company extended the agreement with the Franco-German team until the end of 2013. The main focus will be on the five events of the Audi MedCup. Another highlight of the season will be the TP52 World Championship to be staged in front of Sardinia’s coast in October. Whether in the Audi MedCup or the World Championship, the aims of the team are identical: It is shooting for a place at the top of the standings.
To make this happen, the team is gearing up in terms of material too. The crew of the TP52 class will receive a new boat, with the hull being built in Sydney these weeks. All components, which are manufactured in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and the United States, will be assembled in Europe, starting at the end of March. The baptism of the boat and the first sailing practice session are scheduled for early May. In the meantime the core crew of the Audi sailing team is beginning to take shape. In addition to team principal and helmsman Jochen Schümann, Sébastien Col will be on board as the tactician.
When it comes to recruiting new candidates for the professional crew, Audi will be able to draw on its own ranks of young sailors because the company also extended the agreement with Sailing Team Germany until the end of 2012. Since the 2010 season Audi has been supporting the German national sailing team as an official partner and is represented with the Four Rings on team wear, sails and boat hulls. In addition, the company provides 50 vehicles to the athletes. Another long-term aim is to gradually develop the capabilities of the German Olympic and junior sailors to tackle increasingly challenging tasks.
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