The Australian Grand Prix Corporation today announced a brand new, multi-year collaboration with luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.

The new partnership consists of several components, which will provide Mercedes-Benz with a distinct and immediate presence at the opening round of the 2009 Formula One World Championship when it kicks off in March next year.

Situated at Turn 12 on the Albert Park race course will be a VIP hospitality suite tailored to provide invited guests of Mercedes-Benz with not only the best view of the weekend’s racing, but also a highly memorable experience.

VIP customers, members of the media, and both local and international guests will be treated to a five-star motor racing experience.

Guests who wish to move beyond the ground-level excitement will be able to take in the on-circuit action from an exclusive fully-enclosed trackside grandstand, which is currently being specifically designed and built for this event.

Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen will also be on hand to entertain guests – both on the track and in person.

The exciting new partnership will extend beyond the daytime action to incorporate what has, in recent years, become a highlight on Australia’s A-list social calendar: the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge.

This star-studded event traditionally hosts evening cocktail parties across the racing weekend and will next year move from the top of Melbourne’s tallest building, the 90-storey Eureka Tower, to the Albert Park race track.

Recent years have seen guests mingle with a variety of VIPs and famous names whilst overlooking the lights of Melbourne. Next year will see this exclusive social calendar highlight heat up even further, and move closer to the on-circuit action.

Ron Walker, Chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is thrilled to welcome Mercedes-Benz back to the Grand Prix’s family of corporate partners.

“Mercedes-Benz is one of the greatest car manufacturers in the world while the Australian Grand Prix is arguably the country’s pre-eminent international sporting event,” said Mr Walker.

“Formula One is synonymous with glamour, sophistication and cutting-edge technology, so it is only fitting that Mercedes-Benz should choose to align itself with this magnificent event.

“We are looking forward to helping Mercedes meet its marketing objectives through the powerful and influential reach of the Australian Grand Prix.

“The news is particularly welcoming in light of recent economic events and is a testament to the strength of the Australian Grand Prix product, the long-term future of which is now secure until at least 2015.”

It is more than simply the exhilarating on-track action that has driven Mercedes-Benz’s decision to be a part of the excitement at Albert Park next March.

According to Horst von Sanden, the Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Australia, returning to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and establishing such a spectacular presence is underpinned by one simple objective.

“Our goal is simple but very important: we want Mercedes-Benz to be the first choice for luxury and sports car buyers in Australia,” said von Sanden.

“The feedback we received from our customers and guests who attended this year’s Mount Panorama launch event for the C 63 AMG sports sedan was simply overwhelming.

“On the strength of this event’s widely-known success, the decision to return to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and offer our customers and special guests an exclusive and memorable motor racing experience was an easy one.

“Our objective is to provide our customers with the best products and best ownership experience when they decide to purchase from us, and these two important factors contribute heavily to what makes Mercedes-Benz so special,” said von Sanden.

And in true Mercedes style, there will be several special highlights to next year’s event.

“Our invited guests can certainly expect something special next March. Without giving too much away, our return to Albert Park will certainly be a dynamic AMG driving experience, more than complementing our Bathurst event this year,” concluded von Sanden.

The 2009 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix ? Albert Park ? 26 - 29 March

Terry Stuart Publicist