Kuala Lumpur, 9 March 2011 – AkzoNobel has become a full technology partner to the McLaren Group after expanding and extending the current relationship with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. The announcement of the deal coincides with launch in Berlin of the new MP4-26 Formula 1 car – which now features the AkzoNobel logo on the rear wing endplate on 4 February 2011.
The two companies have been working together since 2008, when AkzoNobel – through its Sikkens brand – became the official supplier of paint solutions to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team. Under the new four-year agreement, AkzoNobel will work closely with McLaren Racing to further develop its extreme environment technology for use in Formula 1 and wider industrial applications.
“Our innovative capabilities are well suited to McLaren’s high performance requirements,” said AkzoNobel CEO, Hans Wijers. “The shared knowledge we have gained from the existing partnership has already enabled us to translate 80 percent of the tailor-made solution supplied to McLaren Racing into a commercial value proposition for AkzoNobel customers. Now, with an exciting new agreement in place, we will look to further build on the pioneering work which both companies are currently carrying out to develop a next generation of superior coatings products.”
Added McLaren Group Chairman, Ron Dennis: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with AkzoNobel, which has already contributed to several performance and efficiency improvements, including reducing the weight of our F1 car and halving the paint’s curing time. Unparalleled technical expertise is vital to our competitive ethos and we look forward to successfully exploring other areas where we can use our combined innovative strengths.”
The striking new MP4-26, which features a sophisticated, high gloss Sikkens system, will be driven by former champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. The first Grand Prix of the 2011 season takes place in Bahrain on March 13.
