London, 28 May 2013 – As MARTINI^® celebrates its 150 Anniversary, MARTINI^® Racing didn’t turn up to the Monte Carlo party empty-handed. Known for its Formula 1^® and World Rally Championship (WRC) adventures in the Monaco principality playground; this weekend recalled a prize from a different shelf in the trophy cabinet in the form of sportscar racing with Porsche.
 
Adding to its already heroic inventory of Monte Carlo appearances, the Italian drinks brand’s second excursion as Official Partner of Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (support series to Formula 1^®) with Sébastien Loeb at the helm, made Sunday’s (26 May) sun-drenched outing a motorsport hat-trick of Formula 1^®, rally and now sportscar racing for MARTINI^®in the sovereign state.
 
MARTINI^® Racing enjoys its fair share of headlines in Monte Carlo’s illustrious motor racing manual. The inspirational Italian tri-colour racing team chalked up no less than 14 WRC rostrum finishes in the vibrant two square kilometers metropolis alone, in a seemingly undefeatable run during the ‘80s and early ‘90s (three more than nine-time World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb’s personal tally of 11 top-three finishes in the tiny Monegasque city).
 
There is no disputing the exquisite backdrop to this very special headline on the Formula 1^® calendar as fans, VIPs and celebrities from across the globe descend on the country in huge numbers to watch the most exhilarating sport on earth, reveling in the electric atmosphere. Only in Monte Carlo is the familiar motorsport smell of oil and rubber punctuated by the elegant scent of perfume drifting down the pit lane.
 
However, there is another side to this famous street-race that involves courage and an almost super-human will to succeed. Monte Carlo is the most demanding meet on the Formula 1^® bill, with a narrow circuit which winds its way around the maze of streets nestled into the steep hillside, before entering the notorious tunnel for one of the fastest corners of the season – taken at speeds of up to 260km/h (160mph).
 
There is no room for error on the tight 3.3-kilometer course with little space for overtaking, which makes racing all the more difficult for the sizeable Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. A hurdle which proved too much for WRC adversaries Sébastien Loeb, in the MARTINI^® VIP car, and fellow Frenchman Sébastien Ogier to overcome as they fought it out in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup over the unfamiliar track, finishing 16^th and 13^threspectively.
 
 
Arnaud Meysselle, MARTINI^® Senior Global Category Director, said: “To see the iconic MARTINI^® Racing Stripes racing through one of the most exciting cities the world has ever known is exactly what we are about; MARTINI^® is all about playful living Riviera style, and Monte Carlo is the personification of that.”
 
He continued: “LUCK IS AN ATTITUDE^TM, that’s something MARTINI^® Racing has always had as we have never been afraid to try something new. Sportscar racing with Porsche in Monte Carlo adds to our fantastic heritage during our very special 150 Anniversary year and [Sébastien] Loeb didn’t need to win for this to still be an exciting entry in MARTINI^®Racing history – all racing is thrilling in this extraordinary city. Sébastien has an incredible ‘can-do’ attitude, putting 100% into everything he does. We have hugely enjoyed watching him these first two rounds and we wish him the best of luck with his next challenge.”