Vodafone Close A1 GP Sponsorship Deal with Algarve

In a time when most companies are revising their sponsorship projects in motor racing, mobile telecommunications network company Vodafone seems to do exactly the opposite. After reaffirming their support for the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, the British company took on a new partnership inside the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport.

According to a press release from A1 GP, Vodafone will become title sponsor of the Portuguese round of the aforementioned series at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit. The Algarve track will make its debut in the championship this year, making for the 6th round of the 2008/09 season (only the second time Portugal will host an A1 GP event, after Estoril in 2005/06).

“The support of Vodafone to such a remarkable event like Vodafone A1GP Algarve, is in line with our long tradition of involvement with Motorsport, namely with car racing and motorcycling. The strong connection of Vodafone with these sport categories, aims to reinforce the association to innovation, dynamism and continuous improvement, common values to both motorsport and Vodafone,” said João Mendes Dias, Head of Brand and CRM of Vodafone Portugal.

“We are delighted to have Vodafone on board as the title sponsor for A1GP Algarve. They have a long association with motorsport sponsorship and their support for this event shows the commercial importance of the first ever A1GP Algarve in Portugal,” added Pete da Silva, CEO of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

The Portuguese round of the A1 GP series this year – from now on known as Vodafone A1GP Algarve – will get under way two weekends from now, on April 10th thru 12th.