- Land Rover extends commitment to Britain’s America’s Cup team for the 36th America’s Cup
- New deal for Land Rover to continue as Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR)
- Land Rover BAR’s challenge for the 35thth America’s Cup ended in play-offs against Emirates Team New Zealand
(BERMUDA) – June 8, 2017 – Land Rover will extend its support of Britain’s America’s Cup sailing team by signing a new deal to continue as Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) for the 36th America’s Cup.
The announcement is a boost for the team, who bowed out of the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda after a courageous battle with Emirates Team New Zealand in the play-off stages. Land Rover BAR’s exit ends a successful inaugural campaign for one of the newest challenger in the competition. They finished at the top of the America’s Cup World Series and came third in the qualifiers.
Since the team’s inception two years ago, Land Rover has committed technology and engineering resources and expertise to the design and development of the R1 race boat skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie in Bermuda. Land Rover engineers provide support in areas including aerodynamics, machine learning and human machine interface (HMI) control systems – a unique collaboration between the automotive and marine industries.
The renewal of the Land Rover partnership will not only aim to build on the success of the first two years but importantly support the long-term mission to bring the oldest international sporting trophy back to Britain for the first time since 1851.
Sir Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Land Rover BAR Team Principal, said, “While our campaign in this year’s America’s Cup has come to an end, we are more determined than ever to bring the Cup home. Knowing we will have the support of a partner like Land Rover means a lot to the team. Their engineering knowledge and expertise has been invaluable in the design process and I’m excited about what we can achieve together in the future. We will waste no time in planning our challenge for the 36th America’s Cup and we’re grateful for Land Rover’s continued partnership.”
Mark Cameron, Land Rover’s Experiential Marketing Director, said, “The Land Rover BAR team has accomplished so much and we are immensely proud of the partnership that has been forged. It has been an incredible success for us both in terms of engineering collaboration and the launch of our new Discovery which is why we are delighted to announce our continued support with as Title and Exclusive Innovation partner for the 36th America’s Cup.”
“It would have been fantastic to have progressed further, but you cannot underestimate how significant Land Rover BAR's achievement has been. To win the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series outright as a rookie team and to successfully launch the Land Rover BAR Academy, also competing here in Bermuda, are real highlights for Land Rover.”
“The America's Cup is the toughest competition in world sailing – there is good reason why Britain has still never won the Auld Mug in 166 years. But Ben and the team will be back fighting harder than ever to win for Britain and we look forward to joining them on this exciting journey.”
“We wish Oracle Team USA and their anointed challenger the very best of luck for what I am sure will be a thrilling finale.”