For the first time since 1959, Aston Martin has triumphed at the legendary 24-Heures du Mans in France, the world’s most prestigious motor sport event. The winning Aston Martin Racing DBR9 009 – supported by title sponsor InterContinental Hotels & Resorts – was driven to GT1 class victory and a remarkable fifth overall by David Brabham, Rickard Rydell and Darren Turner. Yesterday was the 75th running of the historic ‘Grand Prix of Endurance.’
Commenting on the victory, George Howard-Chappell, Aston Martin Racing Team principle said: “We are delighted with yesterday's results, a large part of which is due to the continued involvement and support of our title partner InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Together we have been able to claim the GT1 victory in what is arguably the most famous motor race.”
2007 marks the second consecutive year that the InterContinental Brand has sponsored the Aston Martin Racing Team and two InterContinental-branded race cars – numbered ‘007’ and ‘009.’ Commenting on the sponsorship, Jenifer Zeigler, SVP, global brand management for the InterContinental Brand, said: “We continue to enjoy a great value from our sponsorship of Aston Martin Racing and this year’s momentous win at Le Mans further helps build equity in both brands.”
The 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 appeared at the Legends race in Le Mans on Saturday morning before the start of the main event, driven by Sir Stirling Moss and Dr Bez. Now, 48 years later, the victorious Aston Martin DBR9 and the Aston Martin Racing InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Team will next appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Britain from June 23-24.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,700 hotels and more than 558,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards, with over 33 million members worldwide.
The company pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com.
