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Kimoa becomes 'official surfwear partner' of McLaren

Published on 24 Nov 2017 10:47
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By: Rob Veenstra

McLaren is delighted to confirm that Kimoa has become a new corporate partner of the team The multi-year partnership, which begins in January 2018, will see Kimoa become the team’s Official Surfwear Partner. The Spanish clothing brand, which is owned by Fernando Alonso, was launched in March 2017, and is sold via Kimoa’s estore in more than 150 countries. For 2018, Kimoa branding will feature on the F1 car, driver overalls and helmet. It will also be displayed on Fernando Alonso's team kit and driver cap.

Fernando Alonso said: "As a double-world champion who has been racing in Formula 1 for 16 years, it can be tough to find new challenges in life. Founding Kimoa has given me that fresh start, and I’ve really enjoyed experiencing the adrenaline buzz and sensation of discovering something new for the very first time. Kimoa is an exciting project that I started with a group of friends. We worked closely together as we developed the brand, and it really reflects our spirit and our style. I’m truly delighted about Kimoa’s new partnership with McLaren. Seeing the Kimoa logo on my F1 car, overalls, helmet and cap next year will make me and my co-founders feel extremely proud."

Zak Brown, Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group, said: "Through all of my conversations with Fernando over the past year, I’ve seen just how committed he is to making Kimoa a success. He regards this as an ambitious personal project that neatly complements his regular role as a grand prix driver. As our new surfwear partner, Kimoa will easily sit alongside other clothing brands that we may look to introduce as we continue to grow our partner portfolio. Today’s announcement will place the brand squarely on the international stage and really help to amplify Kimoa’s global presence over the coming years."

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

I dont mind the changes going on in McLaren at all, but as mbmw said, it sounds a bit funny. Well, at least they are not supplied by Le Coq...

1
Nov 24 2017 - 20:58

F1 News Fernando Alonso McLaren

Replies (10)

mbmwe36

Posts: 533
Only one thing comes to mind after reading that McLaren now have an official surf wear partner: LOL!
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- Nov 24 2017 - 12:43
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I was in our cafeteria when I read this post. I spat tea all over my plate and laughed so that half of the room stared at me. Surfwear partner...
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  Nov 24 2017 - 13:09
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Oh boy! Luckily I was at home when I read it.
  
  This is a pet peeve of mine, when teams and football clubs does this. If it's a complementary product, fine, go ahead and be the official partner, who cares?. But when it's something like surfwear (my phone even insists on spelling it surf wear, that's how popular that word is) for a racing team, it just makes my skin crawl
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  Nov 24 2017 - 13:31
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Hehe lucky indeed. I just find it so funny that McLaren, a team that fancy themselves as gentlemen, would go for having an official surfwear partner .
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  Nov 24 2017 - 17:29
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Well, it's Alonso's company. And they have already shown they'll go to great lengths to appease him.
  If Kimoa just became a sponsor, or they could produce McLaren branded surfwear (talk about a niche market! ) that would be one thing. But the official surfwear partner title is just utterly ridiculous!
  But somehow that kinda exemplifies McLaren's F1 division these years perfectly, that they would go for something like this.
  Maybe even new title sponsor of 2019 if all goes well! :-D
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  Nov 24 2017 - 18:15
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  True, true. I suppose they'll go for Durex next (always change your rubber!).
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  Nov 24 2017 - 20:56
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
First of all Ron Dennis must be hating this so much. That being said, I don't dislike it one bit. Yes, it's a bit funny because McLaren has a certain image. But that was the image Ron Dennis created for it over decades. With him gone McLaren is different and it's trying to show it. While surfing and McLaren and surfwear are not natural partners and it's odd, I like the Kimoa brand. I assume that this is part of an overall strategy for McLaren to reach into new markets. It's no different to Tommy Hilfiger or Hugo Boss in the sense that they just make clothing and accessories. The difference is that Kimoa is not a luxury brand. For whatever it's worth, I am happy to see more sponsorship in Formula 1. Specially an undersponsored team like McLaren. I don't really understand all the mockery.
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- Nov 24 2017 - 19:29
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  "The difference is that Kimoa is not a luxury brand."
  That is a big f'n difference, though. When you're a brand like McLaren you try and uphold that image, as much as you can.
  What we were mocking was the fact that they became the "official surfwear partner" of a F1 team. I even said above that if it was just a straight sponsorship, that'd be one thing. It's the way that it's being presented that's ridiculous.
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  Nov 24 2017 - 20:17
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I dont mind the changes going on in McLaren at all, but as mbmw said, it sounds a bit funny. Well, at least they are not supplied by Le Coq...
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  Nov 24 2017 - 20:58
- RogerF1
  
  Posts: 501
  Good job they are getting rid of the shark fins then
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  Nov 24 2017 - 21:50