Indycar driver Simona de Silvestro will be sponsored by Entergy Nuclear for the next three years after the company signed a deal with her HVM Racing team. The deal, likely to be worth some US$5 million per season, follows a one-off sponsorship at last year’s Indy 500 where de Silverstro finished as the top rookie in 14th place.
She was previously a brand ambassador for the company, which promotes the benefits of nuclear energy as a source of carbon-free electricity as well as assists in recruiting younger specialists to the nuclear energy sector, during her rise through the US racing ranks.
“It’s an important time for our country to hear our nuclear clean air energy story,” said Mike Herron, chief executive and chief nuclear officer at Entergy. “With Simona as a lead spokesperson for our effort, teaming up with HVM and Indycar brings visibility to the issue of US energy policy, with multiple national opportunityies to reach out to families and fans
“Having 'nuclear' on the side of a race car is as all-American as racing itself, since nuclear energy generates 20 per cent of all US electricity already. Entergy wants everyone to learn more and get excited about our reliable, green source of electricity.”
The 22 year old Swiss driver, who will be competing in her second full Indycar season in 2011, called confirmation of the agreement “a really special feeling”. She added: “It’s the first time in my career that I know I will be able to race not only this year, but for the next couple of years. We have a great partnership with Entergy and I’m glad they are coming aboard.”
Keith Wiggins, the one-time Formula One team owner who now owns HVM Racing, signed the deal at Baltimore’s Intercontinental Hotel on Monday, a city in which a round of the Indycar series will take place this year. Wiggins said: “This is great news. It gives Simona a long-term platform opportunity to develop into a top Indycar driver while the team will have a stable platform over multiple years to support our championship effort.
"It is a terrific marketing opportunity with a strong partner who has an important message and role in our world’s future.
“We are going to make an impact on many fronts; within the nuclear energy industry, with Simona as an individual driver and within our sport overall.”
