Infineon Announces Global Sponsoring Program 2001 with a Focus on Sports
MUNICH, Germany--Feb. 19, 2001--Infineon Technologies AG (FSE:IFX) , one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, announced today that it has undertaken a sponsorship campaign that reaches across a broad range of international sports. Infineon will sponsor events including Formula One and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition, the company has formed technology partnerships with the Jordan Honda and Audi teams to gain experience toward future automotive and communications innovations. Infineon will also sponsor sports such as mountain biking and rowing which stand for team spirit and dedication.
Infineon's focus on car racing is because this high-tech sport shares the same success criteria as the semiconductor business: rapid and continuous innovation and global reach.
"We consider sponsoring as an efficient way to raise awareness and global exposure of our young company. Infineon's dynamic spirit will be showcased to our customers, employees and investors during many fascinating events," said Dr. Ulrich Schumacher, President and CEO of Infineon Technologies. "Moreover, we will benefit from the technical cooperation with Audi and Jordan in our communications and automotive businesses."
Semiconductors are at the heart of today's race cars, managing all electronic functions. Innovation in car racing was always at the forefront of automotive development. Infineon's technical teams will be at the center of this innovation. The company which ranks second worldwide in automotive semiconductor solutions will use the know-how gained to enhance its expertise in the automotive, wireless and wired communications businesses, for instance in future driver information systems or leading edge navigation solutions.
The sponsoring campaign will be reinforced by additional marketing communications efforts including advertising in print media and TV, trade shows, Internet as well as partner and customer events.
The Partners
By aligning itself with world-famous athletes, who exemplify outstanding performance and a willingness to win by pursuing the limits of possibility, Infineon strives to give itself a positive and dynamic profile. Infineon supports athletes and teams that are compatible with its philosophy of corporate achievement.
The Audi Sport Team, three-time winner of Le Mans 2000, represents speed, endurance, and reliability in automotive sport. With two Infineon-Audi R8 cars, the titleholder will race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with races held in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Infineon has been Audi's partner from the very beginning of the R8 race car project. In the 2001 racing season, Audi and Infineon are entering their third season as partners.
The Jordan Honda Team headed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli is one of the aggressive challengers in the Formula One. The team will be starting this year's race season with new Honda engines. Heinz-Harald Frentzen will also represent Infineon under a personal arrangement. While Frentzen, who has won several Grand Prix races, has been an Infineon partner since 1999, the Jordan Team sponsorship and the technology partnership are new.
Mario Andretti, an American racing legend with an unrivalled career, will represent Infineon in the important US market. Andretti is a former Formular One and Indycar champion. Andretti's charismatic personality and his impressive performance in sports make him an inspiration to others who seek to achieve excellence.
The Porsche Pirelli Supercup, an established Infineon tradition, will be held in conjunction with Formula One races. Three Infineon Porsches by Farnbacher Racing with top drivers Jorg Bergmeister, Philipp Peter and Marco Werner will be starting this season.
The Project Racing Group, a ChampCar-Team of the German Christian Danner, will start in the world's fastest race series, the American CART-Championship. The championship includes 22 races in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This season, the regular driver Luiz Garcia from Mexico will be joined by the German Michael Krumm in a second car.
Austrian Achim Mortl will race a prepared Subaru Impreza in selected rally championships worldwide as well as the Austrian championship.
The Infineon mountain bike team, based in northern Italy, consists of six members and is headed by the top cyclist Hannes Pallhuber. In the Infineon sponsoring package, the team stands for physical strength, endurance and determination.
In the Olympic disciplines, Infineon supports two rowing teams: the German light weight double sculls for men and women. The Infineon women light weight double scull team of Claudia Blasberg and Valerie Viehoff won the silver medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney. Rowing which has a more limited following than many other sports demands fanatical dedication and extreme endurance -- two trades that Infineon shares.