Rising stakes in the America’s Cup

After Team New Zealand created the AC75 Class yacht for the 36th America’s Cup, the Kiwi effort is seeing how the challengers are raising the stakes for the next edition in this report by Duncan Johnstone for STUFF media:

Grant Dalton says the growing Formula One influence on the America’s Cup emphasizes Team New Zealand’s need to solidify their finances for the defense of the Auld Mug.

Sir Ben Ainslie’s Britannia syndicate confirmed a major partnership with F1 champions Mercedes-AMG Petronas on Tuesday. There is speculation the imminent return of former Cup champions Alinghi will come in a deal with F1 giants Red Bull Racing, while there have been whispers of Italians Luna Rossa getting involved with Ferrari.

The F1 teams will bring major design and development resources as the challengers look to chase down Team New Zealand’s winning advantage.

Mercedes could throw as many as 50 staff at the Britannia project headed by James Allison, the chief technical officer of the F1 outfit who has played a key role in the creation of 13 constructors’ championship winning cars.

Team New Zealand boss Dalton looks with envy at the resources increasingly available to their well-funded rivals. As he tries to pin down a hosting deal to provide the financial security for the defense of the Cup, the British development is a reminder of what the champion syndicate is up against.

“Congratulations to Britannia and their relationship with Mercedes, it’s impressive,” Dalton told Stuff. “To me, it just gives context as to why we can’t contemplate an under-funded campaign. That’s because this (British) team are not only fully weaponized now as they move forward with their design process, they also have as much money as they need.

“The challengers know that to beat us they have to do it differently, something that we have always done. Now, it seems we are being hung by our own success.” – Full report