Jaguar link-up with DuPont Performance Coatings.

Starting with the Australian Grand Prix in two weeks time, DuPont Performance Coatings will become a major sponsoring partner of Jaguar Racing.

This partnership represents the first major sponsorship for DuPont in Formula One. The DuPont partnership with Jaguar Racing is led by DuPont Performance Coatings, a strategic business unit of DuPont, which is the primary supplier of automotive finishes to the Ford Motor Company and its premium brands.

First evidence on the track of the DuPont and Jaguar Racing partnership will be the DuPont logo on the nose and a fresh, new 'Jaguar Racing Green' finish for the distinctive, 2002 challenger, the R3.

"DuPont is delighted to build upon its' partnership with the Ford MotorCompany. Jaguar Racing will benefit through our advanced technologies to boost the durability, aesthetic appeal and environmental compliance of coatings," said Marty M. McQuade, vice president of the automotive original equipment coatings division of DuPont Performance Coatings.

"We also will serve as a window to other DuPont materials technologies for advanced electronics, vehicle safety and performance that can be proven-out in the demanding and highly competitive environment of Formula One."

In addition to coatings for new vehicle production and aftermarket repair, DuPont is a leading supplier of automotive materials technologies in advanced composite materials, plastics and materials for electronic systems, chemicals, air-conditioning refrigerants and specialty lubricants. The annual automotive market sales for DuPont exceed $6 billion (USD).

"Welcoming DuPont as a Jaguar Racing partner is a good boost for our team because of their complementary values and outstanding reputation in materials science. This will help deliver many benefits to Jaguar Racing both on and off the track," said Jaguar Racing Team Principal Niki Lauda. "We couldn't be happier about the fit and the mutual benefits we see in the relationship going forward."