Sponsorship & Events - A1 Racing

A1 GP Team New Zealand Sponsorship

Fisher & Paykel Appliances are proud to be a major sponsor of New Zealand’s A1 formula racing team. A1GP has finished its third series and has undoubtedly proved to be one of the most exciting developments to be seen in the international sporting arena.

It is a series that embraces the true spirit of international competition. The format of the competition pits driver against driver; country against country for the first time in history. It has been designed specifically to promote nations and to encourage national pride and patriotism. The series features high performance Lola single seated race vehicles, all with the same weight and power specifications and no electronic aids. Because the technology and innovation of the vehicles is equalised, human skill, excellence and bravery is paramount in determining performance.

In the third series of the A1GP, A1 Team NZL driver Johnny Reid secured second place overall behind Switzerland.

What does it mean for Fisher & Paykel Appliances and New Zealand?

Together, Fisher & Paykel Appliances and A1 Team NZL, as a small appliance company and a small nation, are taking on the world.

Our car, our nation and our company are promoted and showcased to the world via global television broadcasts (free to air in New Zealand). There are eleven events confirmed for the fourth season of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, running from September 2008 through to May 2009 at different locations around the globe.

New Zealand as a nation can focus its enormous passion for motorsport on our NZ team. We can help promote the sport pioneered by such legends as McLaren and Hulme.

As Fisher & Paykel Appliances continues to expand into new international markets it is critical that it secures like minded and equally determined partners to help promote that expansion. Our sponsorship of the New Zealand A1GP racing team is a demonstration of this strategy.

We are taking on the world in a similar fashion to A1 Team NZL. We are proud to be a group of New Zealanders who internationally demonstrate that we have the talent and commitment to be the best in the world.

A1 Team NZL has already shown incredible ingenuity and innovation with how competitive they are in this global motor sport series. Fisher & Paykel Appliances became a natural ally as soon as the scope of the series and the seriousness of the kiwi challenge were understood.

Strong Fisher & Paykel branding on the race car drives awareness in key markets and potential new markets. An association with the A1GP team brings hosting opportunities and provision of ‘money can’t buy experiences’ to potential stakeholders that we could not have achieved on our own. This has been paramount in Fisher & Paykel Appliances current overseas markets, as well as our home market here in NZ. This is especially so with the introduction of Taupo as a location to the worldwide series. Taupo will hold it’s third A1GP event in January 2009.

Like all sponsorships that we are involved with there are a number of events and promotional activities built around it. In the off season between the second and third series last year, Fisher & Paykel Appliances and A1 Team NZL gave the public the opportunity to meet Jonny Reid and see the car. A nationwide tour was taken on by both teams, stopping around the country at selected Fisher & Paykel dealers. This was a great success that was thoroughly enjoyed by the teams and the NZ public.

A1GP is more than just a sport. It is a platform to promote nations and encourage patriotism, which we can exploit to provide global visibility for our brand at a time when brand recognition is important for our global expansion.

Click here to visit the official A1GP Team NZL website and get updates and race results.

Race Reviews Season 3
2007 - 2008

ROUND 1, ZANVOORT, THE NETHERLANDS
Top Ten For Black Beauty
Jonny Reid overcame stiff competition and a less than ideal car setup to come away from A1GP Zandvoort with a pair of top ten finishes. Sprint Race: 9th. Feature Race: 7th. Championship Points: 6. Championship Position: 9th.

ROUND 2, BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC
Black Beauty Lights Up The Nation
Jonny Reid restored the nation’s pride with a double victory in Brno. For the first time ever, New Zealand led this global motorsport event. Sprint Race: 1st. Feature Race: 1st. Championship Points: 31. Championship Position: 1st.

ROUND 3, SEPANG, MALAYSIA
Black Beauty Slips A Gear, Down To Third
A spirited drive from Jonny Reid minimised the points damage to New Zealand’s title hopes after a problem-plagued weekend in Malaysia. Sprint Race: 5th. Feature Race: 8th. Championship Points: 9. Championship Position: 3rd.

ROUND 4, ZHUHAI, CHINA
Reid’s Overtaking Masterclass
Zhuhai International Circuit lived up to its reputation as an overtaking paradise, New Zealand’s Jonny Reid battling through the field to come home second in the Feature Race. Sprint Race: 10th. Feature Race: 2nd. Championship Points: 13. Championship Position: 3rd.

ROUND 5, TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND
A1 Team NZL Turn It On For Taupo
New Zealand charged back to the top of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport after hometown hero Jonny Reid led the team to a massive haul of 23 points. Sprint Race: 1st. Feature Race: 4th. Championship Points: 23. Championship Position: 1st.

ROUND 6, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Feature Race Stall Frustrates A1 Team NZL
Sydney’s weather conspired to unsettle drivers and teams alike. The weekend’s results left New Zealand and France locked together at the top of the table. Sprint Race: 2nd. Feature Race: 9th. Championship Points: 14. Championship Position: 1st.

ROUND 7, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
Down But Not Out After Durban Street Fight
On a Durban street circuit renowned for its tight, twisting layout, New Zealand’s title aspirations took an unfortunate turn for the worse. Sprint Race: 20th. Feature Race: 10th. Championship Points: 2. Championship Position: 3rd.

ROUND 8, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
The Luck Of The Irish
It was St Patrick’s Day here in New Zealand and in Mexico A1 Team NZL had all the luck of the Irish. Sprint Race: 1st. Feature Race: 12th. Championship Points: 15. Championship Position: 2nd.

ROUND 9, SHANGHAI, CHINA
A1 Team NZL Pit Crew In A Race Of Their Own
After crashing out of the Sprint Race, sublime teamwork saw A1 Team NZL narrowly avoid a scoreless weekend in Shanghai. Sprint Race: 22nd. Feature Race: 4th. Championship Points: 8. Championship Position: 2nd.

ROUND 10, BRANDS HATCH, UK
New Zealand Second In World Cup Of Motorsport
After qualifying down the back of the pack for both races, New Zealand battled back to hold off Great Britain’s points challenge and secure second overall in the 22-nation A1GP World Cup of Motorsport for the second year running. Sprint Race: 8th. Feature Race: 8th. Championship Points: 6. Championship Position: 2nd.