Team McLaren Mercedes is delighted to announce that Sparco has joined its
portfolio of Partners as Official Supplier of race wear to the team. The
relationship will see Sparco exclusively provide advanced race wear, which
has been developed to help improve the drivers' environment in the cockpit,
to Team McLaren Mercedes drivers David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen, Alex Wurz
and Pedro de la Rosa.

The race suits are produced using Sparco Tex-Thread W-150ò based on a new
extra light Nomex fabric (298 g/smq) and Sparco Isotec Friction 50ò,
fireproof material with stretching capabilities (15%). This innovative
technology has been developed in conjunction with the Team McLaren Mercedes
drivers. It is based on combining multiple layers of different high tech
fabrics in order to provide lightweight and enhanced breathability
characteristics, which also improves the race suits versatility under varied
conditions of use.

"We have been wearing a development version of the new race suits from
Sparco at recent tests and have been impressed with their performance, the
material is a definitely improvement and it is a significant step forward,"
said David Coulthard, Team McLaren Mercedes driver. "We already have our
race suits tailor made, as we all have different preferences for example
Kimi prefers his suit to be looser than mine. However the technology Sparco
has incorporated into the new suits has definitely improved my comfort
whilst sitting in the car as there are less pressure points."

"During the tests in the build-up to the start of the 2004 Formula One
season, we will
continue to work with technicians from Sparco on honing the design and I am
looking forward to wearing the final version. Particularly for the first
three Grands Prix, which are taking place in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain
locations that tend to have hot atmospheric conditions, which is where the
new suits should provide the maximum benefits, as they already feel much
cooler."

"Driver safety in Formula One is paramount and race wear is a major element
of any competitors protective equipment. In addition to this safety
requirement, there is also a comfort aspect, which has a clear influence on
performance levels," commented Martin Whitmarsh, Managing Director of
McLaren Racing at a signing ceremony on 12th February attended by Sparco's
President and Managing Director, Diego Basso.

"We have entered into our
long-term Partnership with Sparco as a result of their technical
capabilities and consequential benefits provided to the Team McLaren
Mercedes drivers in this area, as a result of the innovative light-weight
and breathable race suits that Sparco have developed exclusively for the
team."

"Only through strategic partnerships with leading teams like Team McLaren
Mercedes it is possible to make progress in product development, and
consequently increasing the safety and performance in motor racing," said
Diego Basso during the ceremony.

"Behind the resources that Sparco dedicates
to R&D for increasing the quality and the performances of our products,
there is the enthusiasm and passion to work closely with the people that
through their hard work on the racetrack provide essential information to
our technicians. The introduction of the new race suits for Team McLaren
Mercedes marks a technological milestone, and represents the future of
specialised clothing."

-mclaren-


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