Martini returns to offshore powerboat racing

Martini has announced that the brand is to sponsor Vector, the British powerboat racing team and global manufacturer of high performance powerboats and performance yachts.

The Bacardi-owned vermouth brand gives its name to the Vector Martini Racing team.

Last seen in competitive powerboat racing nearly 20 years ago, the Martini stripes will once again be featured on the new Vector V40R powerboat in the London to Monte-Carlo Venture Cup. The competition is considered to be the world’s toughest offshore endurance race.

The race will start on June 7 under London’s Tower Bridge and travel 2,500 miles over the next two weeks, finishing in Monaco as part of the official opening weekend for the new Yacht Club de Monaco.

Select guests and media will have the chance to be passengers on the Vector Martini Racing V40R powerboat in stages of the Venture Cup under full racing conditions.

Martini guests also will enjoy the experience of the race in a fully configured V40R offshore racing powerboat as part of their Martini Racing weekend experience at select races.

The Martini brand recently announced its return to Formula 1 as title sponsor of the Williams Martini Racing Formula 1 team.

Martini global category director Sandy Mayo, said: “Our relationship with powerboat racing started in 1973 and the new partnership with Vector creates an exciting new chapter in this history.

“The V40R boat with its Martini Racing Stripes looks amazing and we are delighted to form Vector Martini Racing to participate in competitive offshore racing once again,” he said.

Vector plans to attempt a series of nautical records later this year, including the famous Poole to Cherbourg cross channel world record using the latest online technology to provide exciting adventure reality content to a new global audience.