Today’s announcement cements an already-solid alliance between the two companies, building on Pinnacle’s 2-year tenure as sponsor and communications partner with Binnie Motorsports. Pinnacle will supply the team with mobile and radio communication services, including radio communications to link the driver and the crew, mobile communications for use in the case of emergency, wireless telemetry technology and mobile sim cards that provide free international roaming. In return, the car’s branding will include the Pinnacle name and logo giving it significant exposure to a growing motor sport audience fuelled by the recent success in Formula 1 of British driver, Lewis Hamilton.
Commenting on the deal, Alan Bonner stated, “I am pleased to announce our continued support of Binnie Motorsports and look forward to building on our already-strong record of success at Le Mans. Securing an increased presence for Pinnacle Telecom with one of the race’s most successful teams is a great opportunity for us; this year, the race was viewed on television by 325 million people worldwide with 250,920 live spectators in attendance.
Our winning car was proudly liveried with the Saltire and that’s how we feel about announcing this deal – proudly showcasing Scotland’s ability to compete and win on an international stage.”
A true Scottish success story, Glasgow born Bill Binnie and Alan Bonner’s partnership goes back to 2004 and the two last raced together at the 2006 Classic Le mans 24 Hours in the 1952 Jauguar C-Type of Ecurie Ecosse - the last Scottish team to win at Le Mans, in 1957. The team have been keen to include the next generation of Scottish talent in their success and launched a competition last year with Young Enterprise Scotland to find a budding young motor sports enthusiast to join the 2007 Le Mans crew. Richard Crozier from Stonehaven, an 18-year old mechanical engineering student at Edinburgh University, was chosen from among the hundreds of young hopefuls and is now on the road to a career in motorsport having joined the team at last weekend’s Le Mans.
Pinnacle will review their sponsorship deal in mid 2009, with a view to continuing motorsports sponsorship and maintaining a high profile in the field.