TAG Heuer and Oracle Racing have announced a partnership that will see the Oracle Racing crew outfitted with TAG Heuer watches and eyewear during the America’s Cup World Series and the 34th America’s Cup, the finals of which will take place on San Francisco Bay in September, 2013.
The partnership was announced in San Diego during the third round of the America’s Cup World Series. On hand for the announcement were TAG Heuer President and CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, Oracle Racing CEO and afterguard Russell Coutts, and the team’s skipper Jimmy Spithill. At the 33rd America’s Cup Match in Valencia, Spain in February, 2010, Coutts and Spithill led their Oracle Racing team to a convincing 2-0 victory over the Swiss defender, Alinghi — thus returning the oldest trophy in international sports to the United States for the first time in 15 years.
“We’re proud to be back on board with Oracle Racing” said Jean-Christophe Babin. TAG Heuer previously partnered Oracle Racing in the 31st America’s Cup of 2003.
“Oracle Racing is the best team in sailing,” said Babin. “It is the yachting equivalent of our motor racing partners Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in Formula One and Audi Sport for the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours. Joining the TAG Heuer prestigious team of ambassadors, Jimmy Spithill and Russell Coutts are cut from the same cloth as our driving legends Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sébastien Ogier. We all share the same values: a quest for perfection, a passion for innovation, avant-garde technology and design, and a love for speed and performance.”
“Having such a prestigious world-renowned brand, famous for its involvement with top-level sporting events and personalities, join our team is not just great news for Oracle Racing but for the America’s Cup as well,” said Russell Coutts.
Below L to R, Jimmy Spithill, Jean-Christophe Babin and Russell Coutts.
