Barcelona World Race - Renault Z.E. to sail with Rivero and Tono

by Isabel Genís on 19 Oct 2010 Barcelona World Race - Antonio Piris and Pachi Rivero will be flying the Renault colours on their IMOCA Open 60 in the upcoming Barcelona World Race, which start on 31st December. The motor vehicle brand, one of the main sponsors of the race for a second time, has chosen to give its support and its name to the entry skippered by the Spanish duo.

Pachi Rivero is especially satisfied to have finally confirmed a sponsor for this great challenge: 'The fact that Renault is backing us is an honour which fills us with hope, but it is also a great responsibility'.

Antonio 'Toño' Piris, who joined the team as co-skipper in February this year: 'For us, this is like a reward for all of our hard work over the past few months. We are going to put everything we have into this race and we won't let down the people who put their confidence in us'

Since Piris and Rivero joined forces both sailors have been working tirelessly following an intensive training and boat preparation schedule, including the New York – Barcelona Record and the Vuelta España the Round Spain Race this summer, in which they finished in a worthy fourth place. The huge challenge to compete in the Barcelona World Race, which Pachi will be racing for the second time, now has Renault's backing, with the team set to take the start on December 31st buoyed by high morale and good prospects. Pachi Rivero and Toño Piris are also two of Spain's most experienced offshore sailors, with some of the highest accumulated miles sailed in offshore and oceanic racing including experience in the IMOCA Open 60 field. They also know each other very well, having sailed together since childhood. Pachi also has a Barcelona World Race under his belt, having raced with Bubi Sansó in the previous edition, finishing the round the world challenge in a highly commendable fourth place.

Renault Z.E. is a range of fully electric, zero emission vehicles from Renault, a very real departure from the traditional concept and use of motor vehicles: now offering sustainable mobility for all. Following on from Renault's eco2 environmental policy, the Renault Z.E. (Zero Emissions) electric vehicles are set to be commercially successful on a big scale and so achieve some considerable environmental advances. In less than a year, Renault plans to put a complete range of four 100% electric, ecological and affordable models on the market. The core values of environmental sustainability, which are inherent in offshore racing is very much a synergy with the Renault values, and the Z.E. concept have been a determining factor in the decision to sponsor Pachi and Toño's yacht: 'The Barcelona World Race is an ideal framework for raising the profile of our new projected expansion of electric vehicles', explained Jesús Presa, Director of Communication for Renault Spain.

Andor Serra, Director General of the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona, the organizers of the Barcelona World Race, said: 'We are very happy that Renault have chosen to publicize their new range of electric cars in this way, by associating them with the Barcelona World Race. We share values such as innovation, technological development and respect for the environment. Also Renault are doing this by putting their support behind an experienced team, as Pachi Rivero and Antonio Piris. Both have numerous circumnavigations to their names, which makes this a sporting project with very good prospects'

www.barcelonaworldrace.org