Moet Cup 2003: BMW Takes a Positive Stock

Proximity to Spectators Could Be a Model for the America's Cup 2007

MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 25 -- In a rematch of the Louis Vuitton Cup final, ORACLE BMW Racing was victorious over the official America's Cup winner Alinghi during last week's Moet Cup in San Francisco. The team led by Larry Ellison and CEO Chris Dickson won both the Owner/Driver series and the Pro/Driver series.

"The Moet Cup has exceeded all of our expectations; we are very happy with the results," says Thomas Giuliani, Director Marketing Communication of the BMW Group, drawing a positive stock of the Moet Cup.

Great weather conditions and wind speeds of up to 25 knots allowed spectacular match racing duels throughout six days of sailing. Due to a course set near to the coastline, thousands of spectators on land and in several hundreds of boats in the bay were able to experience match race atmosphere at a close distance. "The on-site atmosphere was simply fantastic, last but not least because of the spectators being so close to the action. This Moet Cup can surely serve as a model for the America's Cup 2007," Giuliani says and confidently adds: "In 2007, it will be a fantastic America's Cup in Europe -- for the sailors, the spectators and the media."

At the Moet Cup's final press conference, Larry Ellison and Alinghi Team's syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli announced that the next race, which will be similar to the Moet Cup, will be held in June 2004 in Newport, Rhode Island. A decision on other America's Cup teams participating apart from ORACLE BMW Racing and Alinghi will be made during the next months. The next highly anticipated decision however, will be made this year on the 15th of December, when titleholder Alinghi will announce the venue for the America's Cup 2007.