Andre Azzi invests in multifaceted platform with hopes of attracting
big players back to motorsports
MONTREAL, Sept. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Andre Azzi, the only Canadian to own an Indycar team, is quietly building a multifaceted racing platform that is turning heads around the world and among racing fans here at home. At 36, Azzi has invested already millions of dollars into his dream of fielding a Canadian entry in the IZOD Indycar Series, North America's premier Indycar racing series. A year into his entry into professional motorsports, the successful entrepreneur has already enjoyed solid on-track performances and is exploring expansion through a second car as well as a deal to bring Indycar racing to the city of Quebec. Proud of the team's achievements to date, Azzi is now offering his platform to Quebec's businesses in order to take it to the next level. According to Azzi, Quebec-based companies are still largely misinformed when it comes to Indycar sponsorship.
"The investment is relatively minor and the results major," says Azzi. "Indycar offers speed and excitement without any pretentiousness."
Azzi's FAZZT Race Team is composed of veteran driver Alex Tagliani and a team of 22 employees. Team owner Azzi is determined to launch a second car in the near future, to begin a development program in the next two years, which will likely include feeder teams, and to deploy best efforts to bring a race to the streets of Quebec City.
"Canadians enjoy racing, yet support from Corporate Canada is lacking," says Azzi. "I've made the decision to invest my time and personal resources toward competing at the highest levels in the sport I love, and I will devote the next five years, if not more, toward implementing a sustainable driver development program that assists up-and-coming talents to the higher echelons of the sport."
When Azzi purchased the team in the summer of 2009, he effectively obtained 'exclusive rights' to a Team Canada concept in the North-American open-wheel series. As the only Canadian team in the series, sponsors of his team enjoy a sponsorship platform at the highest level of professional racing that is hard to replicate and includes access to Canadian drivers, branding at all 17 Indycar races including two Canadian events, important television rights and press coverage.
The FAZZT Race Team is currently sponsored by B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) and TorcUP. The team's Quebec-based sponsors to date include Sennheiser, les Produits Phoenicia and La Capsule sportive.
About FAZZT Race Team
The FAZZT Race Team was formed in July 2009 as a partnership between Andre Azzi of the Azzi Race Division, ATG, and other business partners. The team fields a full-time IndyCar Series team that made its debut at the season opening event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Andre Azzi is the teams' Chief Executive Officer and Rob Edwards is the Chief Operating Officer and team General Manager. The team is housed in a 25,000 sq. ft. race shop on the north side of Indianapolis with a second facility that will house Research and Design in Montreal. For more information, go to www.FAZZTRaceTeam.com.
For further information:
and interview requests:
Valérie Marcoux, François-David Rouleau
Torchia Communications
514 288-8290, exts 214, 222
[email protected] /[email protected]
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