Bangkok--May 4--141 (Thailand)
Forms up Racing Team, Introduces New High-Power Lubricant
Castrol is in bid to take advantage of motorsport racing popularity to further build up and sustain its marketing images by appointing Prodrive Motorsports Co., Ltd., to manage the Castrol RS Racing Team to be led by 1999's Asian Formula 2000 champion Nattapong Horthongkum while introducing"Castrol Formula RS Sport" targeting at high-speed, full-power drivers.
Castrol unveiled the team at the Siam Discovery Center on May 2nd, 2000 to reinforce their market leadership in lubricants technology.
Mr. Paul Bardeleben, 4 Wheel Marketing Manager, Castrol (Thailand) Ltd., said recently that Castrol places great importance on motorsport racing. One of its endeavors in support of such claims was the regular testing of lubricants under severe conditions, realizing the very important environment of motorsport which is able to show clearly to its target groups the high performance.
Appointing Prodrive to manage "Castrol RS Racing Team" for this event is therefore another step in the bid to build up and sustain Castrol's favourable images. Besides, this event is to be held in support of motorsport racing which is full of excitement and is currently enjoying higher and higher popularity in Thailand. An important member of the "Castrol RS Racing Team" is the very successful 19-year-old Nattapong Horthongkum who was last year dispatched by the company for further training at the Silverstone Racing School in England, he said.
Mr. Bardeleben said further that Castrol had at the same time introduced "Castrol Formula RS Sport", a lubricant that is 100% full synthetic racing motor oil. It was also produced under a new 0W-40 formula which is suitable for the motorsport industry and for those who yearn for power. Special properties of this new formula include the ability to protect the engine from wearing down that is 5 times higher than that of its other 0W-40 counterparts, the ability to reduce friction, the ability to increase engine power by 5%, the capability to build up oil pressure at a faster pace, the capability to assist for the faster pace of oil circulation, the capability to protect engines at extreme temperatures as well as engines with high mileage, etc.
"With these distinctive efficiencies, Castrol Formula RS Sport is therefore the lubricant for world-class racing team such as Winfield Williams F1, Castrol Toyota, Hyundai Rally etc. It is the synthetic lubricant of highest standard one can get for the Formula One track and for the general as a whole" he added.
Castrol Formula RS Sport is on sale in two sizes - one litre and four litres - at the cost of 525 baht and 1,995 baht respectively.
As for Mr. Kobsak Chinawongwatana, Managing Director of Prodrive Motorsports Co.,Ltd., he said, in relation to the forming up of "Castrol RS Racing Team", that Prodrive, as a professional company dealing in the business of race and rally preparation and engineering with close connections with Prodrive England, realized that motorsport is a sport which could well establish valuable images for its sponsor when it comes to marketing. The company is confident that the joining hands with Castrol this time will result in further development of the Thai Motorsport industry, he said, adding that Nattapong Horthongkum, last year's Asian Formula 2000 champion, who is to lead the team, had even been despatched for further training in England under Castrol's patronage.
Mr. Kobsak went on that Nattapong's talent as well as the professional hands of everybody involved in the team, together with the bringing in of the fully-modified BMW series 3 and Ford Escort Cosworth imported from Norway and England respectively for use in the race, and the power of the new Castrol Formula RS Sport would all join forces and result in victory and success at both national and regional levels which would in turn bring about fame to Thailand's motorsport industry. At that point we are certainly ready to give a go at international levels, Mr. Kobsak said, adding that as for this team, Prodrive welcomes outside products or companies that are interested in co-sponsoring the event, so that success could well be shared together.
"Castrol RS Racing Team" has two important members : Mr. Kevin Boyle, with almost 20 years experience in motorsport racing, is the team manager and chief technician, and Mr. Surakit Kulkumthorn, former champion of many rally events, who is the motorsports co-ordinator.
For this year Castrol RS Racing Team will participate in the Grand Touring race in the Thailand GT Touring Car Championship event to be held on 5 tracks altogether beginning in May, ending in December. The team has also taken part in the Super Drag Battle National Championship to be held on 10 tracks altogether. The latter event has already started in March but still has 6 more tracks to go. The team will set up road shows as well in order to introduce the team by themselves and inform those who are interested about motor racing.
Castrol has been active in the Thai market for the past 70 years through an agency. In 1972 Castrol (Thailand) Ltd. was established as a joint venture between Castrol (U.K.) Ltd. and Loxley (Bangkok) Ltd.. Castrol has gained worldwide acceptance as "The Lubricant Specialist" and celebrated its centenary in 1999.
For further information, please contact: - Khun Werawat Chirapark, Castrol (Thailand) Ltd. Tel. 676-5444 ext. 434 - Charmanan Dhanabhumi, Sorat Wisayadamrong, Sunisa Porntadavith 141 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Castrol's PR agency Tel. 255-4577 ext. 501 - 504 End.
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