Famous global lubricant brand increases its involvement with the current Le Mans Series LMP2 champions
The iconic powder blue and orange colours, owned by the Gulf Oil International Group, will be flown in 2007 by the Barazi-Epsilon sports prototype team in both the Le Mans Series (LMS) and Le Mans 24 Hours.
Gulf supported the team last year en route to it winning the LMP2 Championship crown in the Le Mans Series. This year, Gulf will increase the scale of its participation with the team as it seeks to retain its title and find glory at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours itself.
Gulf Oil International Vice President, Alain Dujean, is delighted with Gulf's2007 deal with Barazi.
"Gulf was extremely impressed with the way Barazi-Epsilon performed in 2006 under the excellent direction of Michel Lecomte," he said. "At times its LMP2 Courage was the fastest car in the entire field, as was demonstrated when it finished a superb second overall at Istanbul.
"The team added another successful chapter to Gulf's record in endurance racing by taking the category crown at the season finale in Jarama, Spain."
The LMS and Le Mans 24 hours are perfect settings to demonstrate Gulfs brand positioning. The work that goes into motor racing events of this type supports Gulf's brand values for an international showcase where professionals strive for perfection, while respecting and caring for the environment. The competence of all that are associated with these races is proved by the reliability of the cars and the courage of the drivers.
Dujean added: "Recently we have been involved in LMS and Le Mans as major sponsors for the last two years with Paul Belmondo Racing. This was not an option open to us this year, but we had established a really strong top-level motorsport programme for the brand and for Gulf affiliates around the world, so we wanted to continue to build on it further.
"Gulf is delighted to continue its association with Karim Ojjeh who has been racing with Gulf for some time and has been a great ambassador for the brand.With his move to Barazi, Gulf has been given the opportunity of supporting him as its ambassador for the brand so it was logical that Gulf increased its involvement yet further with the team."
The Barazi squad will contest the full Le Mans Series in 2007 as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours in a brand-new Zytek 07S supported by Michelin tyres. This is the first LMP2 contender from the British manufacturer, but its larger LMP1 sibling is already an overall race winner in the LMS.
Power will come from Zytek's own 3.4-litre V8 engine, which has already proved competitive with other LMP2 teams. Hopes are therefore high that the Gulf- sponsored team can again challenge for race and championship honours from the outset of the new season.
"Gulf is looking to take another major step forward with its motorsport programme this year," Dujean concluded. "We are truly excited about the prospects for further Gulf motorsport success in 2007, to add to the long and glorious history that the brand has enjoyed in endurance racing - over five decades."
