Formula E Team Aguri brings Gulf sponsorship to open-wheel racing
The blue and orange Gulf livery is one of the most iconic in motor racing, often appearing on GT cars from the classic Ford GTs to the present-day Aston Martins:
However, until now a single-seater race car had never sported the prestigious colors, but Team Aguri is changing that this weekend.
At Saturday’s Mexico City ePrix, Team Aguri’s SRT_01E will be decked out with the famous Gulf Oil International blue and orange livery, after the team announced that Gulf - through its recently appointed Mexican Fuel Licensee, IF Vertical 2 - is now the team’s title sponsor.
Additionally, this partnership marks Gulf Oil International’s first foray into electric motorsports.
“Gulf has a long history of success in motorsport,” commented Frank Rutten, Gulf Vice President International. “Through IF Vertical 2’s exciting initiative in Mexico we are delighted to see Gulf make its debut in FIA Formula E with Team Aguri to continue our heritage of racing excellence. Our participation in this event maintains Gulfs long history of being at the forefront of innovation in all aspects of our business.
“The move reflects the changing focus of the automotive industry, with manufacturers increasingly focusing on the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. These new vehicles will require new lubricant solutions to ensure they run at optimum efficiency and to support the evolving technologies that will provide increased range, faster charging and greater durability. The Gulf brand’s involvement in Formula E will put us at the forefront of these developments.”
“To work with a global brand such as Gulf is a real coup for the team,” said Marc Faggionato, Team Aguri Owner, adding that it “reinforces our commitment to driving the development of the future automotive technologies that will become commonplace in the road cars of tomorrow. We are excited about our partnership and look forward to forging a strong and lasting relationship.”
The inaugural Mexico ePrix takes place this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, with qualifying airing at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FS2, followed by LIVE race coverage beginning 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1.
