Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has joined as an affiliate sponsor of TrueCar Racing, the world's first all-female racing team and its “Women Empowered” initiative, for the rest of 2012.
“We are thrilled to have the Virgin Group team with TrueCar Racing to help empower women in racing and to help strengthen and broaden the message that women racers can statistically win in a sport dominated by men with the right resources and support,” said Scott Painter, founder and CEO of TrueCar, Inc. “We are committed to providing our team with the tools they need to win now and in the future.”
With the affiliate sponsorship, Virgin branding will now be included on Dragon Racing's IndyCars piloted by TrueCar Racing driver Katherine Legge, and Sebastien Bourdais. It will also appear on each TrueCar-sponsored “Women Empowered” cars in other racing categories.
“This initiative speaks volumes on our commitment to empowering women. Given the opportunity, women race car drivers have a great capacity for success,” said Branson, founder of Virgin Group. “We're excited to help TrueCar Racing and its women drivers achieve victory on and off the track.”
TrueCar Racing was created to support top female racecar drivers in premier racing series, along with young rising stars across several developmental racing series. TrueCar Racing provides full sponsorship support, professional coaching and training, marketing exposure, and top-tier racing team opportunities throughout the U.S. TrueCar Racing's team is currently comprised of:
- Katherine Legge (IndyCar)
- Ashley Freiberg (Star Mazda)
- Shannon McIntosh (USF2000)
- Shea Holbrook (Pirelli World Challenge)
- Verena Mei (Rally America)
- Emilee Tominovich (Mazda MX-5 Cup)