Groupama to Enter the Volvo Ocean Race

French insurance company Groupama confirmed it will enter the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. The company has already contracted its long term skipper, Franck Cammas, for the job, while signing a deal with Argentinian designer Juan Kouyoumdjian, who has been assigned with designing the new boat. In fact, Kouyoumdjian has also been the designer of the winning boats in the last two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

"It's now been over 12 years that Groupama and Franck Cammas have worked together as a team. Today, we have decided to continue this commitment by participating in the Volvo Ocean Race to inspire a more international dynamic in our common project," said Frédérique Granado, director of external communications at Groupama.

Granado has put all his hopes in Cammas and trust him to be able to create a team and manage it so that, along with the new boat, will bring the Volvo Ocean Race trophy to Groupama.

"Groupama is developing strong links overseas, where we carry out nearly 30 per cent of our business, and the Volvo Ocean Race is clearly the most suitable sports event to reflect our group's new expansion," Granado explained.

"Groupama is once again showing its trust in me at the very important moment where we're committing to a new challenge, while a lot of sponsors wait for a sports events to draw to a close before announcing that they're renewing a partnership," Cammas said.

"The French certainly have their place in the Volvo against the cream of the Anglo-Saxon and European crews. It is excellent news that the Groupama team is joining the race. I have known Franck Cammas and his team for a long time. They are formidable competitors, who are remarkably well organized.  It is going to be an exciting race," concluded Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race.