Emirates Team New Zealand wins Audi MedCup

- Team dominates “Champions League” of sailing
- Victory at finale in Spain secures title in TP52 class
- Regatta series in the Mediterranean offers sailing at its best in five events

INGOLSTADT, Germany, Sep 20, 2009  -  The “Champions League” of international sailing has been decided: The Emirates Team New Zealand is the winner of the 2009 Audi MedCup that was staged in five races in the Mediterranean. The team around skipper Dean Barker finished the season with a win at the finale in Cartagena, Spain.

“Audi looks back on the 2009 season of the Audi MedCup with memories of many emotional moments, a fantastic sporting competition and fascinating technology,” says Lothar Korn, Head of Marketing Communications of AUDI AG. “We extend sincere congratulations to the winning crews. There is no doubt that the most recent edition of the Audi MedCup has again found worthy champions.” The team Islas Canarias Puerto Calero won the smaller GP42 class.

Up to 255 sailors from twelve nations, more than 40 races on the five weekends in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, several hundred accredited journalists, thousands of fans along the coast, Olympic winners and numerous America’s Cup heroes on board of the boats – the Audi MedCup was again a gathering of superlatives in the 2009 season. Since the 2008 season the Audi MedCup has been competing under the auspices of the Four Rings: In addition to its role as name-giver, Audi shapes the visual design of the series, assumes hospitality support and supplies current models for the entire fleet of shuttle vehicles.

“As name-giver to the Audi MedCup, we are proud of the prestige which the series has meanwhile gained far beyond Europe’s borders. Within just a few years the Cup has become established in the international world of sailing and has evolved into an event that attracts the world’s best sailors,” says Korn. “At five regattas, sailing fans have witnessed thrilling, fair and fascinating sport. Strings of successes, chases to make up positions, new records – 2009 featured a mix of everything.”

The season that ended on the weekend with the finale at Cartagena was dominated by the Emirates Team New Zealand. For the first time, a team achieved a string of victories in four consecutive rounds. Even before the final round in front of the historic setting of the Spanish coastal town the crew around Dean Barker practically had the title in its pocket. The 37-year-old America’s Cup and Olympic contender commandingly secured his advantage. Title defender Quantum Racing (USA) had to settle for second place.

For the first time this season, the similar but slightly smaller boats of the GP42 class competed in the Audi MedCup. In close competition two boats started to the finale with the same points score. The prerequisites were clear: The winner in Spain will also be the winner of the MedCup. In the last races Islas Canarias Puerto Calero kept cool and clinched the triumph.