Ulm / Neuschwanstein, February 15, 2008 - The backdrop for the introduction of the LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler, which begins its adventure in the World Touring Car Championship on March 2 in Brazil is like a fairytale: Neuschwanstein Castle. For the first time in the nearly 140 year history of the world famous fairytale castle, a racing team will present its drivers and racecar there. A location consciously selected for the international journalists: “When Engstler Motorsport was founded 14 years ago, the world championship was out of our reach. Now a fairytale is coming true and this castle captures the idea perfectly”, raves team manager Kurt Treml. Together with the Ulm lubricant specialists, the Allgäuers have a lot planned.
Castle romanticism meets high-tech race cars – a striking contrast, which reflects the image of Engstler Motorsport. “We know where our roots are. That keeps us grounded. At the same time, we set ambitious goals for ourselves“, said Kurt Treml during the press conference. It’s not for nothing that the motto of the Wiggensbach team is “On to new pastures”. After advancing again in the driver and team standings in the German ADAC PROCAR series and in the Asian Touring Car Championship (ATCS), Engstler is search for a new challenge: the official Touring Car World Championship of the International Automobile Federation FIA. “We have established ourselves in both other series and reached all of our goals. This makes starting in the World Touring Car Championship the next logical step for us”, said the team manager as he explained the decision.
With this in mind, the collaboration with LIQUI MOLY is being intensified. The additive manufacture will soon be the primary sponsor. “In terms of our brand image, the previous two racing series were already of interest. The WTCC will complete the advertising effect, as it will be broadcast on all six continents on the planet”, says Peter Baumann, marketing director of LIQUI MOLY, who is building upon the growing partnership with Team Engstler.
Three Teams in Three Series
In addition to the WTCC, the LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler will continue to participate in the ADAC PROCAR series and the Asian Championship in order to defend the titles.
With two BMW Type E 90 race cares, the team is ready to start. Franz Engstler and his Russian colleague Andrej Romanov will fight for the World Championship points. Rustem Teregulov from Russia will sit in the cockpit in the PROCAR series. The second driver will be announced shortly. The Japanese racers Masaki Kano and Seiji Shiobuchi will drive the BMW in the Asian ATCS.
“We want to defend our titles, but the World Championship is the biggest challenge in the coming season”, says Franz Engstler. Of course the team will have to learn some things the hard way during their first season. “We want to keep this number as low as possible with careful preparation”, adds Treml. Yet the participation in the final World Championship race last season in Macao went very well. In the private driver rankings, Engstler ranked number 3 in the old BMW E 46. Team member Romanov was the fifth driver over the finish line. “If we have already done so well with the old model, we’re certainly not going to have to hide ourselves with the new one', Romanov said combatively.
The Independence Trophy in Their Sights
The WTCC is very interesting on a sporting basis. Alongside the Formula 1 and two additional series, it is one of only four official world championships organized by FIA. With Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet and Seat, four brands are fighting for the title. “Of course we can’t measure ourselves against factory teams”, said Treml, staying realistic, “but we’d like to have some say in the awarding of the Independence Trophy'. This title is awarded to the best independent team. The chances are not bad for Engstler Motorsport in this category, as the test run in Asia showed.
The New Partner
In the new season, the Allgäuers are venturing forth with an old acquaintance, LIQUI MOLY; but in a new constellation. Soon the lubricant specialist will debut as primary sponsor. “With the current commitment, we are permanently increasing the recognition of our brand. Our product range has a large affinity with motorsports and a corresponding sponsoring is just logical and sensible.” And with this, the mid-sized company will be drawing upon parts of the spectacular cooperations from previous years, such as during the Handball World Championship 2007 in Germany, multiple times during the Formula 1, for ski jumping as well as the primary sponsor of the German Bundesliga soccer team TSV 1860 Munich. LIQUI MOLY was strongly represented in TV and in the print media as an advertising partner during the Four Hills Tournament at the beginning of the year. The Ski Flying World Championship will follow at the end of February.
Worldwide Television Presence
In Germany alone, the Four Hill Tournament was broadcast for about 65 hours. Similar numbers followed in Russia, Switzerland, Austria and all of Scandinavia – the viewer rate was over 70% in Finland. All records were broken from the previous year. “We are represented with our products in more than 90 countries on the planet. We are thinking and dealing globally”, says Peter Baumann, giving a glimpse at the marketing policies of LIQUI MOLY. The international effect is also extremely important for motorsports – the race will be broadcast into more than a billion homes worldwide. “That is one reason for our partnership with Engstler Motorsport”, says the marketing director. In Germany, Eurosport will broadcast the competition in its entirety. ntv will show excerpts from it. The BMW 320 CSI, worth more than 60,000 euro will also be presented during the event. LIQUI MOLY will be giving away the E 90s in racing design over the course of the year.
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The FIA WTCC Calendar 2008
March 2 – Curitiba, Brazil
April 6 – Puebla, Mexico
May 18 – Valencia, Spain
June 1 – Pau Ville, France
June 15 – Brno, Czech Republic
July 13 – Estoril, Portugal
July 27 – Brands Hatch, Great Britain
August 31 – Oschersleben, Germany
September 21 – Anderstorp, Sweden
October 5 – Monza, Italy
October 26 – Okayama, Japan
November 16 – Macau, China