The brand becomes its official automotive partner

• The two brands bring together their competitive spirit and the passion for motorsport for the next three years
• CUPRA strengthens its commitment to the new generation of young talents
• The Academy’s riders sit behind the wheel of the CUPRA Formentor

Verona, 21-05-2021 – CUPRA continues its offensive to conquer performance enthusiasts across new territories. The CUPRA Tribe has signed a collaboration agreement with Valentino Rossi’s young VR46 Riders Academy and becomes its official automotive partner for the next three years.

With this agreement, CUPRA strengthens its commitment to supporting the new generation of young talents who aim to be the impulse of transformation. Both the Academy’s riders and its management team will be able to enjoy the CUPRA Formentor, the first model uniquely designed and developed for the brand.

CUPRA Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations Antonino Labate said: â€œThe collaboration with VR46 Riders Academy represents bringing together two worlds which share the same competitive spirit and passion for motorsport. Both brands have the same on-track racing DNA and the desire to promote young talent. With the character and inspiration of a legend like Valentino Rossi, I’m sure that the Academy’s riders will be part of the next generation of young challengers who will be the impulse of transformation.”

“We’re very proud to enter into a partnership with CUPRA, a brand with which we share a passion for challenges and values of professionalism and commitment, always looking to the future. We’re confident that the features and the power of the CUPRA Formentor will be able to better interpret the needs of our riders during their journeys”, added Alessio Salucci, Director of the VR46 Riders Academy on the occasion of the announcement of the collaboration.

“We have invested a lot of effort in this project together with VR46 Riders Academy. This collaboration has been a natural decision for both of us: we share the same philosophy, team spirit, values and principles. We are delighted to start this collaboration and I am sure that we will be able to transmit the same passion to our fans, as from now on they will have an exciting journey together”, added Pierantonio Vianello, Director of CUPRA Italia, on the occasion of the delivery of the cars.

The school of champions

Created in 2014 by nine-time motorbike world champion Valentino Rossi with the aim of nurturing new MotoGP talent, VR46 Riders Academy is considered the school of Italy’s future motorcycling champions, with riders such as Franco Morbidelli (MotoGP), Stefano Manzi (Moto2), Andrea Migno and Niccolò Antonelli (Moto3) having passed through its ranks.

The CUPRA Tribe is made up of a team of champions who share the brand’s values and aim to be the impulse of transformation. In addition to eight players from the world of padel, the brand’s members include FC Barcelona players Marc ter Stegen and Ansu Fati, actor Daniel Brühl and race drivers Mattias Ekström, Jordi Gené and Mikel Azcona, among others.