STIHL has decided to increase its involvement in the DTM series, having been a part of it since 2009, as they have officially co-sponsored the Mercedes AMG DTM team. From the moment Canada’s Robert Wickens starts his campaign in the 2013 season, his new livery will have the orange and white corporate livery from STIHL emblazoned on his Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class Coupe.
Also joining the fray in co-sponsoring the 2011 World Series By Renault Champion’s car is popular German car show “GRIP – Das MotorMagazin,” which has been a staple of RTL II on its Sunday programming since 2007, that on average has 800,000 viewers tuning in to every show. Being one of the more popular motoring-related shows in Germany, it is clearly a well-respected show, with motoring enthusiasm and authority being part of its ethos, which sits well with its regular audience.
Wickens now heads into this season no longer a rookie, but is looking to better the results he achieved last year, which included three top ten finishes, ending up with 14 points, placing 16th overall. His F1 credentials speak for themselves, having been a test driver for both Marussia Virgin Racing and Lotus Renault GP, so the hunger to return to the F1 scene would be more than welcomed for the Toronto native, but for now his focus is on the DTM, and looks to make a further impression: “My orange and white STIHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupé is definitely one of the coolest designs seen on the DTM grid this year. In my whole racing career, I’ve certainly never seen a paint job that I liked better. Our goal now is to make sure that we don’t just look cool but are also fast.”
STIHL’s Head of Marketing, Jürgen Fitting, commented on the new dynamic partnership that the brand embodies: “The outstanding engineering that goes into the Mercedes AMG racing car and the fact that Robert Wickens personifies the Canadian outdoorsman very much reflects our brand values, namely uncompromising professional quality. Both car and driver are perfect brand ambassadors for STIHL.”
STIHL from a practical perspective, helps the team out, as the battery-powered BGA 85 blowers, that are used to aid cooling of the engines that the Mercedes AMG Team use in the C-Class AMG Coupe, it brings a double benefit to the team. The blowers help to curb the need for the use of generators and electric fans, as well as promoting cleaner technology through the batteries that are used, meaning more of an eco-friendly way to help lessen the impact of motorsport in some respect.
DTM Management and Motorsport Communication head Wolfgang Schattling was clearly delighted that STIHL and Mercedes-Benz have taken their co-operation to a new level this year, as in its 85 year history, STIHL has been forward thinking in its revolutionary technology and innovation in its field: “The name STIHL has become synonymous with cutting-edge technology and market leadership. This premium brand also stands for quality and service, values that align perfectly with those of the premium car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.”
