Sir Ben Ainslie Closes New York Stock Exchange on Return to U.S. Shores

4 May 2016

(New York, N.Y.) ‑ May 4, 2016 ‑ Sir Ben Ainslie today announced the British team's arrival on U.S. shores by calling time on trading at the New York Stock Exchange ahead of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series event.

Land Rover BAR Team Principal and Skipper, Ben Ainslie and his British team ring the NYSE Closing Bell® ahead of the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup World Series
Sir Ben Ainslie joins illustrious list of Brits to receive the official 'Closing Bell' honors
Ainslie returns to racing on US waters with British team three years on from being part of the winning Oracle Team USA in San Francisco

The Land Rover BAR team made an appearance at the world's largest Stock Exchange on Wall Street, proving that Britain's America's Cup are up for the challenge in New York, hoping to continue their winning ways, after victory in Oman earlier this year.

At 4 p.m. traders gathered to witness Sir Ben Ainslie, his Land Rover BAR teammates and Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, North America, LLC, ring the famous 'Closing Bell' a tradition that is almost as old as the America's Cup itself. Ainslie joins an exclusive list of British luminaries including British Actors Sean Connery and Robert Pattinson.

While trading came to a close on the floor it marks the start of business on the water for Land Rover BAR. It was in San Francisco 2013 that Ainslie last tasted America's Cup success after stepping into the tactician's role to help Oracle Team USA's complete one of sport's greatest comebacks, from 8‑1 down, to clinch victory from Emirates Team New Zealand. The four time Olympic Champion now returns to the U.S. with Land Rover BAR to bid to become the first British team in history to win the oldest trophy in sport.

Sir Ben Ainslie, Land Rover BAR Team Principal and Skipper said, "It's an honor to be here on the New York Stock Exchange floor to ring the Closing Bell ‑ and mark the start of the U.S. leg of the America's Cup World Series."

Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, North America, LLC said, "As Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner to Land Rover BAR, we are honored to have the team racing on U.S. shores and in New York, the largest market for Range Rover. Land Rover is applying its design, technology and engineering expertise to support the mission to develop an America's Cup winning boat."

The New York Yacht Club held the America's Cup for 132 years, the longest unbeaten winning streak in world sport. This weekend (May 6‑8), the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series will see Cup racing return to New York ‑ the early home of the event ‑ for the first time since 1920.

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Further information

About Land Rover

Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles, is renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. Every Land Rover vehicle is equally at home both on and off road, and in any setting; be it in the heart of the city, or traversing the countryside. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque and LR4 (Discovery 4). Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures their vehicles in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information visit the official Land Rover website at http://www.landroverusa.com.

About Land Rover BAR

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) was launched on June 10th 2014 in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. The team was conceived by four times Olympic gold medalist and 34th America's Cup winner, Sir Ben Ainslie, with the long‑term aim of challenging for Britain and bringing the America's Cup back home to where it all began in 1851. Ben has developed and will lead a British entry capable of winning the prestigious trophy, something Britain has so far never managed to achieve.

Land Rover BAR is a commercial sporting team, with a number of individual private investors alongside corporate partners. The team is made up of some of the best British and international sailors, designers, builders and racing support.

Sports teams represent key role models in society. This privileged position is not taken for granted at Land Rover BAR. The team believe our influence should extend far beyond the race course, and have put sustainability at the heart of operations since launching the team with Exclusive Sustainability Partner 11th Hour Racing in 2014.

The team have built a new headquarters in the center of Portsmouth, the 74,000 sq ft. building houses all the team's activities, and will welcome the public into its Tech Deck education center.

The 1851 Trust is the team's official charity, and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is its Royal Patron.

About Jaguar Land Rover

‑ The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover

‑ Jaguar Land Rover employs 32,000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world

‑ Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and four advanced manufacturing plants in the UK

‑ Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA

‑ Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outlets in the USA

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4 May 2016