Virgin signs new partnership with premium luggage brand

Virgin Racing is delighted to announce the agreement of a special one-race partnership with premium luggage brand Antler, for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Antler brand will appear on Virgin Racing’s two cars under the lights of the Singapore night-race street circuit for one of the most anticipated and stylish races of the 2010 Formula 1 season.

Antler will help Virgin Racing’s team members get to their global destination with ease and style for next year’s 20 race calendar, by supplying their new lightweight range of products to the team’s travelling contingent. The challenges facing Virgin Racing’s engineers are often similar to those experienced by Antler’s, to design and manufacture the best product possible, by minimising weight without compromising performance.

Antler’s new Liquis model is possibly the lightest hard shell suitcase in the world, weighing in at an incredibly low 3.6 kilos (81cm version), whilst still providing the quality and durability associated with all Antler products. The weight limit for a Formula 1 car is just 620 kilos, meaning Virgin Racing’s VR-01 incredibly weighs in at approximately half that of the original MINI.

Graeme Lowdon, CEO of Virgin Racing, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Antler to our partnership portfolio. We continue to develop every aspect of our team - both technically and operationally - and whilst car performance remains our overriding objective, improving all aspects of our operations such as our extensive travel schedule is very important. We look forward to the role Antler will contribute to that element of the team. At Virgin Racing we are constantly pushing the boundaries of performance, without compromising safety or reliability whilst adhering to strict regulations such as those in Formula 1 and in the aviation industry for luggage. We can identify exactly with the challenges our friends at Antler have been facing for over 80 years.”

David Benjamin, CEO of Antler, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Virgin Racing in a sport which shares many similarities with our own industry. Gaining product advantage by reducing weight whilst maintaining strength and security is a challenge shared by both companies. We look forward to our new Liquis product helping the Virgin Racing team lighten their load as they travel the Formula 1 circuits in the 2011 season.”