Successful presentation of the A1GP Team Netherlands
Published on 06 September 2005 by Huub Rothengatter
The launch of the A1 Team Netherlands last Monday has been very suxccessful. In Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk aan Zee a festive gathering was organised after the press conference in the afternoon, but only when you were invited.
His Royal Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum, the initiator of the A1GP Series, and the Dutch symbol for Sports enthusiasm Mrs. Erica Terpstra as representative of the NOC*NSF were present. The witnessed how the bright orange car of the Dutch team was driven into the hall by Jos Verstappen, in a business suit but with racing helmet and shoes. Jos treated everyone with his trademark by braking very late and stopping just in front of the stage. He just can't help himself...
The A1GP series contributes to the patriotic feeling. In other racing classes the drivers compete in (factory)teams against other drivers, but in A1GP the drivers actually represent their country and defend their country's colours. Sheikh Maktoum spotted the gap in the market. "It is odd that in a world famous sport like motorsport no country competition exists, just like football, rugby, etc." he told the gathererd press during the pressconference. So he decided to invest his money in setting such a series up himself. This doesn't mean that the teams do not have to try to finance the series for themselves. This is why teamboss Jan Lammers sent quite a few invitations to prospective multinationals with a view to future sponsoring. The orange car is delightful to see but a few sponsor logos wouldn't go amiss, according to Jan Lammers. The decision makers who were present were treated on a spectacular show and were introduced to join a win-win situation to establish a sportive and commercial success. In In The Netherlands A1GP will be covered on TV by RTL7 (in the UK exclusively by Sky Sports). They are covering about everything which means future sponsors and advertisers are guaranteed countrywide coverage. Hopefully the spark, which could be seen in Jan Lammers' and Erica Terptra's eyes, has jumped over to the invited companies.
Sheikh Maktoum was the most important person present and therfore he was given a very Dutch show. Firstly a Dutch medley was sung by Antje Monteiro. She sung beautifully and showed the crowd why she was chosen to play the lead role in the opera Aida. After some speeched of Jan Lammers, Sheikh Maktoum and Erica Terpstra the spotlight was on Jos Verstappen. Jos drove the car from the back of the hall to the stage and a lot of oooh's and aaah's could be heard. With all the flashes of the photocameras it looked like a strobe effect entrance.
After the presentation there was a drink for everyone and they had a very good time. Later that night Erica Terpstra was guest in the autosport-tv programme on Dutch TV and she revealed herself as an ambassador for the motorsport. There was no shortage of ambassadors though, with Jos Verstappen, Jan Lammers and Sheikh Maktoum there. Everyone is ready, that was very obvious. The expectations are high and Jos will have to show what he is made of, which shouldn't be a problem with his F1 track record.
~Thorsten Hendriks
