VERVA Racing Team at the starting line!!!
08-03-2010    capital group, sponsoring
 

The first Polish racing team in motor sports history, created by PKN ORLEN S.A., is set to compete with teams from all over the world in the legendary Porsche Supercup, which is held immediately before Formula 1 races. The VERVA Racing Team will make its debut on 12 March on the International Circuit in Bahrain!

The roar of engines, 400-plus horsepower under the hood, top race drivers, dozens of legendary Porsche 911 race cars on one course, adrenaline, competition, excitement. In short, the world of the Porsche Supercup, the most prestigious of the world's one-make racing series, and now home to the VERVA Racing Team.

Founded by PKN ORLEN, this new team represents a racing undertaking on a scale never before seen in Poland. This will be the first time that a Polish team has ever competed in such an illustrious auto racing series. The competitors in this cup series race immediately prior to Formula 1 races. The fast, dynamic nature of the events, extraordinary setting and proximity to the legendary F1 series draw hundreds of thousands of people to the stands, and millions to their televisions. Starting in the events is tremendously prestigious for the drivers who will represent the white-and-red of Poland, and they will have the opportunity to test their nerve with the top drivers in the world in their category.

“PKN ORLEN’s commitment to participate in Porsche racing is an investment in the future of young, talented Polish drivers.It is my belief that in this, their very first season of races they will bring Polish motor sport fans great satisfaction," says Jacek Krawiec, Chairman of the Board of PKN ORLEN.

PKN ORLEN decided to create the VERVA Racing Team in order to give young Polish drivers an opportunity to achieve international success in motor sports at a level similar to that of Polish F1 driver Robert Kubica. The events in the Porsche racing series are among the best possible places to realise that goal.

“Our involvement in the Porsche cup series is a natural consequence of PKN ORLEN's sports marketing program including such projects as the ORLEN Team. Our market research has indicated that the VERVA brand also requires a communication platform to strengthen its public image.Therefore we decided to initiate this auto-racing project.We are convinced that the presence of our new team in the prestigious Porsche Supercup will strengthen the perception of VERVA automotive fuels as innovative, prestigious, modern and guaranteeing top performance,”adds Leszek Kurnicki, Marketing Operations Director for PKN ORLEN.

Two drivers will start in the VERVA Racing Team colours: 19-year-old Jakub Giermaziak and 22-year-old Robert Lukas. Both are young yet rich in experience in various branches of motor sports including: Go-Karting, Formula 2.0 and the Porsche Carrera Cup.

“ This is to be the first time that a Polish team has ever competed in such an illustrious auto racing series.It will be the debut for both PKN ORLEN and the young Polish drivers in such a demanding race series.We’ll be crossing our fingers for them,” adds Chairman Jacek Krawiec.

“ It will the debut for both PKN ORLEN and the young Polish drivers in such a demanding race series.The most important thing this year will be developing experience, getting to know the series' races, the car, the driving styles of the other drivers and the specifics of the tracks where the races are run.But that doesn't mean we're not counting on good race results," says Chairman Jacek Krawiec.

There are now 10 challenging races ahead of the VERVA Racing Team, set to take place on courses all over Europe and the Middle East. The first race will be on 12 March in Bahrain.

For additional information contact:
Agnieszka Sakowicz, tel. +48 604 555 997, e-mail: a.sakowicz@bss75.pl

VERVA RACING TEAM RECRUITMENT

In choosing the drivers for testing, PKN ORLEN relied on the opinions of experts from the motor sports industry. A special Panel of Experts was created, under the direction of Krzysztof Hołowczyc, and made up of: Jacek Czachor, Mikołaj Sokół, Cezary Gutowski, and Sean Edwards. Recruitment of the members of the VERVA Racing Team took place in two stages. The first stage was the selection of Polish race drivers and the choice of the competitors who would be invited to the second stage – testing. The Panel conducted analysis of the experience, race results, and above all the development potential of the Polish candidates. Each of the experts, according to their own knowledge and experience, prepared a list of candidates for the position of driver in the VERVA racing team. A short list of five drivers was drawn up based on analysis of the candidates, and those five were invited to demonstrate their skills in practice. That list consisted of Karol Basz, Łukasz Błaszkowski. Jakub Giermaziak, Robert Lukas, and Maciej Steinhof.

Professional speed trials were organised at the end of January on the Ricardo Tormo course in Spain's Valencia. The cars (420 horsepower Porsche 911 GT3s) were prepared by the mechanics of Motorpark Academy's team, which has many years of experience in various racing series. Each candidate had 21 laps to drive. The time to which the invited candidates’ results were compared was established in the beginning by Sean Edwards, an experienced Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver and the son of a former F1 driver.

The speed trials were, of course, observed by the Board of Experts.

“It was really very difficult to choose just two drivers.We had drivers of very similar levels of skill to choose from, each with tremendous driving talent.I can say without reservation that the test team was made up of the top race drivers in Poland," said Krzysztof Hołowczyc

In making their selection, the Board of Experts analyzed over a dozen different parameters, of which the most important were the drivers' times on the course and their improvement over successive laps. Jakub Giermaziak was the fastest around the Ricardo Tormo circuit, whose best lap time was only minimally less than Sean Edwards’. Robert Lukas was second.

The VERVA Racing Team members admit to feeling some jitters ahead of their debut.

“At the same time, being accepted by the VRT is a tremendous distinction.As we say in sports talk, it’s a real "kick", and thanks to it we are flying high, and rising through the ranks in the world of motor sport. There is huge potential for growth here.We’re looking forward to the challenge” say Jakub Giermaziak and Robert Lukas.

Race Calendar:

Bahrain 12-14 March
Barcelona 7-9 May
Monaco 13-16 May
Valencia 25-27 June
Silverstone 9-11 July
Hockenheim 23-25 July
Hungaroring 30 July-1 August
Spa 27-29 August
Monza 10-12 September

Additional materials can be downloaded at the site:
www.vervaracingteam.pl

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