PUMA to Compete in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race

After it finished second overall in the 2008-09 race, the PUMA Ocean Racing team announced today it will also participate in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) 2011-12, again under the leadership of skipper Ken Read. Moreover, PUMA will also be the official supplier of footwear, clothing and accessories to the VOR.

"Both the team and the company hope to leverage the key lessons from the last Volvo Ocean Race campaign in order to continue spreading the good will of the programme and PUMA worldwide," Jochen Zeitz, PUMA AG Chairman and CEO, said in a release.

For the 2011-12 race, PUMA Ocean Racing has partnered with BERG Propulsion, who manufactures Controllable Pitch Propellers for commercial shipping. The team will therefore be known as PUMA Ocean Racing, powered by BERG Propulsion.

"This is a key new ingredient to our campaign," stated Antonio Bertone, Chief Marketing Officer, PUMA AG. "BERG Propulsion's CEO Hakan Svensson and his entire company are a perfect fit with our operation. As a life long competitive sailor himself, Hakan understands the sport, the race and how BERG can utilizes the race to help build and market their global company."

The company's entry into competitive sailing extends its commitment to lifestyle sports, joining its Formula 1 partnerships, motor sports collaboration such as Ducati and Ferrari, and the launch of a sportlifestyle golf collection in 2006.

"We are really looking forward to developing the Volvo Ocean Race PUMA clothing, footwear and accessories line," Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race CEO said, adding that he hopes it will become an even more attractive brand for all the fans of the race.