Plymouth, UK 6th October 2005. Conrad Humphreys Racing today announced that it will enter a British team in the Volvo Extreme 40 (VX40) grand prix circuit during 2005-06. The Great Britain VX40, which is sponsored by Motorola, will be skippered by Humphreys and includes Team GBR members Leigh McMillan and Will Howden, both British hopefuls for Beijing 2008 and Global Challenge winning navigator Hamish Oliphant.
The Motorola-Humphreys VX40 is a 40ft one-design multihull that has been designed for fast-paced inshore grand prix racing. The new circuit which will be held during some of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 stopovers, including Spain, Brazil, US, UK and Holland. The first grand prix starts in Sanxenxo, Spain, during the first week of November.
Humphreys will compete in both the IMOCA Open 60 and the VX40 grand prix circuits in 2005-06. Combining both the inshore grand prix racing and the offshore Open 60 sailing will provide a greater resource for training, team development and performance. It also enables partners of Conrad Humphreys Racing greater flexibility in using the medium of sailing as a marketing and communications platform.
Conrad Humphreys, Managing Director commented, “The VX40 campaign will provide a number of opportunities going forward: It is an exciting boat to train and race with the best catamaran sailors in the world which will improve our competitive edge; the grand prix is global and gives our partners greater visibility worldwide and also provides the chance for employees and customers to sail as part of a high performance team. The mix is perfect!”
Margaret Rice-Jones, corporate vice president, Motorola Inc. and general manager, Motorola Networks, EMEA, commented, “We are excited to be sponsoring the Team GBR VX40 and supporting Conrad and his crew. This new VX40 circuit covers ports worldwide and ours is a global market. Their commitment to winning matches our own drive to deliver upon customer expectations and market share in the region. The races demand true team work and focus – key elements to winning in business.”
Media enquiries:
Conrad Humphreys Racing
Vikki Cheung
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 600111
Email: vikki@conradhumphreys.com –
Conrad Humphreys Racing Website
http://www.conradhumphreysracing.com/ – for all sports & news media enquiries & resources
Motorola Online Media Centre
www.motorola.com/mediacenter
APP Broadcast Television Production Service – broadcasters can request archive and VNR footage and set up satellite video conference net meetings with Conrad via APP Broadcast team. Contact Harriet Prest: hprest@appbroadcast.com – Tel: +44 (0)208 964 4992
Photography: High resolution aerial, onboard & portrait photography is also available on request, please contact Conrad Humphreys Racing.
Further information on the class log onto http://www.volvoextreme40.org/.
For further information on the class please contact:
Herbert Dercksen
t. +31 (0) 23 584 17 31
e. herbert@volvoextreme40.org
High resolution pictures and renderings are available at the Press photo section of the Volvo Extreme 40 web site: (Press Login) – Login: press – Password: vx40 http://www.volvoextreme40.org/
For further media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Sacha Oswald
t. +44 (0) 1489 554 848
e. sacha.oswald@Volvooceanraceorg
Notes to editors:
About Conrad Humphreys Racing (CHR)
Conrad Humphreys Racing (CHR) is dedicated to turnkey solutions in sponsorship, marketing, communication and internal development for business using sailing as a medium. In 2005, CHR managed Motorola’s entry in the 2004/5 Vendée Globe becoming the 5th British team to successfully complete the event in its 25 year history. CHR is the management company for both the IMOCA Open 60 and the new VX40 campaigns. For more information: http://www.conradhumphreys.com/ / http://www.conradhumphreysracing.com/
About Motorola
Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004. For more information: http://www.motorola.com/
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Volvo Extreme 40 Class Organization
P.O. Box 87
2120 AB Bennebroek
The Netherlands
T. +31 (0)23 – 584 17 31
F. +31 (0)23 – 584 17 32
E. info@volvoextreme40.org
http://www.volvoextreme40.org/