By Phil Huff
February 3 2003

Typical. You wait for ages for a new sponsorship deal to come along, and then three turn up at once. Following on from F1 rivals Jordan and Minardi, Sauber Petronas have signed a three-year supplier agreement with Puma. Puma will be providing the full scope of teamwear for Sauber Petronas. In addition to the team outfit, this includes fireproof overalls for the pit crew and the drivers as well as the racers' gloves, fireproof underwear and footwear. The Puma logo will be featured on parts of the team's apparel and on the headrest of the Sauber Petronas C22 racing car.

Sauber Petronas Team Principal Peter Sauber said "Puma are one of the leading athletic brands, and I am happy to have gained such a partner. Puma are the first supplier capable of fully covering the entire range of our needs with regard to apparel."

Martin Gänsler, Vice Chairman of PUMA AG, expressed his delight about the new partnership as well, commenting "Over the past few years, Peter Sauber, as one of the few remaining private team owners, has proved his ability of competing with the top runners. Finishing 4th and 5th, respectively, in the 2001 and 2002 FIA Formula 1 Constructors World Championship, Sauber Petronas have impressively demonstrated this. Being associated with this type of performance in a highly competitive sport is essential for Puma, in order to maintain the balance between sport, lifestyle and fashion."

Puma, the global athletic brand, deliver the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design, so says the Sauber press release.