London, 20th April 2012: Jaguar Cars is pleased to announce a new three-year global partnership with Team Sky Pro Cycling, which coincides with the forthcoming launch of the new XF Sportbrake.
The partnership, which was announced in the elegant surroundings of Syon Park, West London, was attended by leading members of Team Sky. They included 2011 Road Cycling World Champion Mark Cavendish, Sky Rider Juan Antonio Flecha, Team Principal Dave Brailsford. Representing Jaguar was Geoff Cousins, Global Director of Sponsorships.
Jaguar’s partnership with Team Sky is a highly relevant and effective for both parties; Jaguar cars provide invaluable support to the team during the races, carrying over £100,000 of cutting-edge cycling equipment on the roof alone. The car also acts as the ‘nerve centre’ of the team on the road from where all vital strategic and split second tactical decisions are made. This year’s partnership is particularly timely as Jaguar is proud to provide Team Sky with its latest new model, the XF Sportbrake.
Team Sky is a professional UCI World Tour team that competes in everything from the one-day classics to stage races and the ‘Grand Tours’. The team’s stated objective is not only to inspire a love of cycling but also to produce a winner of the legendary Tour de France by 2014.
The XF Sportbrake, which was launched in March at the Geneva Motor show, draws on the strengths of the highly successful XF saloon. The car combines the performance and craftsmanship of the award-winning XF along with the space and practicality of a luxury estate, perfectly aligning itself with the needs of the most active of lifestyles.
Team Sky Pro-Cycling required a vehicle capable of delivering space, performance and a practical and comfortable environment in which to work and store vital pieces of equipment to allow the team to operate effectively. Its self-levelling air suspension at the rear and substantial 1,675 litre loadspace allowed it to meet Team Sky’s exacting requirements.
Geoff Cousins, Jaguar Global Director of Sponsorships, commented:“We’re delighted to announce a new three year partnership with Team Sky. We know that our involvement in the rapidly growing sport of cycling and our support of Team Sky resonates strongly with new and existing Jaguar customers. Team Sky and Jaguar have similar ambitions and objectives and furthermore, the values of the team fit well with our human performance and Alive themes that sit at the heart of the Jaguar brand. We wish the riders the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating their successes over the coming years.”
Commenting on the announcement, Dave Brailsford, Sky Pro Cycling’s Team Principal said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Jaguar. Over the past two years Jaguar has provided the team with fantastic support and we very much look forward to putting the new XF Sportbrake through its paces. I am confident it will play an important role in the team’s success this year by providing a fast, high performance and comfortable race support car. It provides the perfect environment from which to direct race operations when we’re on the road. The fact that it looks stunning too will make it the stand out car behind the peloton.”
Andrew Whyman the Chief Programme Engineer of the Jaguar XFSportbrake added: “Jaguar is rightly praised for its design-led products, but in creating the XF Sportbrake we were careful to ensure that this was balanced with the engineering integrity required to create an estate car that is as usable as it is enjoyable. The Sportbrake epitomises the Jaguar sporting dynamic with its combination of innovative, seductive design and performance. In the XF Sportbrake this is complemented by a no-compromise approach to practicality and versatility.”
