Red Bull to energize America’s Cup

Geneva, Switzerland (December 14, 2021) – The double America’s Cup–winning syndicate Alinghi made it official today they are once again in pursuit of the oldest trophy in international sport.

Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli and two-time Olympic champion Hans Peter Steinacher announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing and presented its logo at the Société Nautique de Genève, the yacht club the team will represent.

After an absence of over a decade, Alinghi is returning to battle for sailing’s pinnacle honor, and this time has partnered with a driving force in global sport, forming Alinghi Red Bull Racing to prepare for racing as an official challenger when the Selection Series for the 37th America’s Cup begins in 2024.

“While keeping the winning spirit that has always animated Alinghi, we want for this challenge to do something totally different, totally new, totally fresh,” said Bertarelli as he aligns with Austrian billionaire businessman Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder and 49% owner of the Red Bull energy drink company.

“When we imagined with Dietrich Mateschitz the involvement of Red Bull in the America’s Cup, he said ‘Our way is not to get into the sport as sponsors, but to blend into the team, to form a true partnership, to nurture young athletes and turn them into the best in their field’. He also proposed that we should make contributions to give the America’s Cup itself a new dimension.

“With Red Bull we are equal partners in this venture. They will bring their competence, energy and strength in creating performing teams, and we bring our experience in sailing and winning the America’s Cup. Alinghi Red Bull Racing will shine a new light on the event.”

Alinghi and Red Bull have long been friendly rivals in series such as the GC32 Racing Tour and the Extreme Sailing Series. Having shared this mutual respect and admiration, Hans Peter Steinacher, a two-time Olympic champion in the Tornado Class and Austria’s most successful summer sport athlete, is enthusiastic about the new partnership.

“The America’s Cup is – and by volumes – the most important sailing event in the world,” said Steinacher, who has been a leading presence in developing the next generation of sailors as co-founder of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and Red Bull Foiling Generation.

“Alinghi’s experience and team spirit are unique in the sport of sailing. All of Red Bull is behind this project, and I doubt it could have been done with another team.”

In partnering with Alinghi, Red Bull also brings the expertise of the Red Bull Advanced Technologies unit that has supported Red Bull Racing in achieving a total of five Formula One Drivers’ Championships – including the thrilling triumph just secured by Max Verstappen in the last lap of 2021 – as well as four F1 Constructors’ Championships.

“We welcome Alinghi Red Bull Racing to the World of Red Bull, and our F1 team is looking forward to helping this new member of our family to succeed,” said Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner.

“Red Bull Advanced Technologies is a world-class technology center that offers services to different entities including other sports, born out of the innovative, technical expertise we’ve generated throughout our years in F1. Red Bull Advanced Technologies will establish synergies with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. We will share our experiences, engineering tips, etc. It is a two-way cooperation.”

Brad Butterworth, who won two of his four America’s Cups with Alinghi, remains in the loop for this new campaign. “I have been with Alinghi for 20 years now, and getting into this new challenge with Red Bull is very exciting,” said Butterworth. “The America’s Cup is a technology race which is won on the water with race strategy and tactics. Red Bull has demonstrated that time and time again in F1 and in many of the other sports it competes in.”

When the entry period opened December 1, the Royal New Zealand Yachting Squadron would only report that several challenges were received but would not specify their identity. Alongside the Swiss team, thus far it is only officially known the challenger of record INEOS Britannia (GBR) is committed, though both American Magic (USA) and Luna Rossa (ITA) have indicated their intent to continue campaigns from the 36th America’s Cup.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing will headquarter its operations near Lausanne, in Écublens, Switzerland, where the hull will be built according to the requirement of the Deed of Gift. A core crew led by Alinghi’s GC32 co-skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis and mainsail trimmer Bryan Mettraux will begin training during the winter period to prepare a 100% Swiss Made crew.

Team details: www.alinghiredbullracing.com

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, the entry period opened December 1, 2021 and runs until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup may be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender is to announce Match Venue and approximate event dates on March 31, 2022. – https://www.americascup.com/en/home