BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 3, 2007. Tenneco Inc., manufacturer of Monroe® shock absorbers and Walker® exhaust system and catalytic converters, announced today that it has been designated by the World Touring Championship (WTCC) as an “Official Partner”. In this capacity, Tenneco will sponsor, together with Seat Belgium, a Seat Leon in the WTCC Independents' Trophy competition. The car will be driven by the Belgian driver Pierre-Yves Corthals and prepared by the French team Exagon Engineering.
“As a young and dynamic competition which attracts millions of spectators, we are always looking for dynamic and proactive partners. We are truly delighted to welcome Monroe® as an official sponsor of the FIA along side car manufacturers such as BMW, Alfa, Seat, Chevrolet and Alfa Romeo”, said Francois Ribeiro, Commercial Director of the WTCC.
Monroe® participated in the 2006 WTCC as a sponsor of the independent Italian team JAS motorsport's Honda Accord, driven by Pierre Yves Corthals. “We are excited to be joining again this year”, said Alex Gelbcke, Tenneco's Vice President Aftermarket Europe. “We believe the WTCC is an excellent communication tool to further increase the visibility for both our Monroe® brand and our suspension technologies.” Tenneco supplies virtually all vehicle manufacturers globally. With nine ride control engineering centers and 32 manufacturing facilities worldwide that design, engineer, test and manufacture shock absorbers, suspension modules, advanced electronic suspension systems and anti-roll technologies, Gelbcke added. “We are constantly working to develop technologically advanced solutions to provide greater safety to passenger cars on the road in any driving situation.”
After his season with JAS motorsport, Pierre Yves Corthals says he is ready for a more ambitious challenge. “I'm delighted to be back driving a Seat. I have the dynamic support of the SEAT Belgian importer and the support of Monroe®, the leading brand of shock absorbers. The car is an ex-SEAT sportscar that was driven by James Thompson in last year's WTCC and it will be prepared and run by a professional team Exagon, managed by Luc Marchetti who has already proven his technical competence. It is a wonderful opportunity, so now it is all up to me. ”
Corthals drove his new car for the first time in Magny-Cours: “From the first lap I realized I was driving a car with an extremely modern concept and excellent balance. I was impressed by how easy it is to drive. My goal for the season is to claim the Independents' Trophy and try to make the top-ten both in the qualifying rounds and in the races.”
The participation of Monroe® in the WTCC marks a return of the brand to motor sport following many years of involvement with NASCAR in the US and the Porsche Pirelli Supercup in Europe. Tenneco also participated in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 World Rally Championship with its Kinetic Suspension System, and in 2004 was also a partner of the Seat on the Cupra in the Spanish GT championship.
Tenneco currently supplies products for a number of original equipment SEAT models such as the SEAT Leon, SEAT Agil, and SEAT Toledo. The VW group is Tenneco's largest OE ride control customer supplying shocks and or/struts to the VW Polo, Golf, Passat, Sharan, Caddy and Transporter, the Audi A3, A4 and A6, and Skoda Fabia, Octavia and Roomster.
The Exagon team with Pierre-Yves Corthals, SEAT Belgium and Monroe®, are scheduled to race in Curitiba, Brazil on March 11 th .
For more information: www.monroeracing.eu.com , or ww.eu.tenneco-automotive.com
Tenneco is a $4.7 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker®, Gillet® and Clevite®Elastomer brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Tracâ and Monroe Reflex® shocks and struts, Ranchoâ shock absorbers, Magnum® Heavy Duty shock absorbers, Walkerâ Quiet-Flow® mufflers, Dynomaxâ performance exhaust products, and Clevite® Elastomer noise, vibration and harshness control components. SEAT is a Spanish company within the German Volkswagen Group. Its TechnicalCenter provides the company with the unique position among all car manufacturers established in Spain in being the only brand with the capacity to design, develop and produce its own vehicles.
Exagon Engineering is a French company dedicated to the design, development, construction and operation of racing cars for a variety of motorsport disciplines. The company is situated within the Technopôle at the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit in France, next to the Formula 1 circuit. Exagon Engineering operates from 1,800 sqm premises with 20 employees. |