Stihl Timbersports Series and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in cooperative link-up
The Stihl Timbersports Series is cooperating with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles at events in the elite division of lumberjack sports. Both brands appeal to the Series’ target group of people with a high affinity for the great outdoors; for example, at international competitions such as the Champions Trophy and the World Championship. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles made one of its first appearances in the Stihl Timbersports Series at the Champions Trophy in Florence, Italy, in May.
Dr. Günther Scherelis, head of communications at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, sees big opportunities in the partnership. “We build vehicles such as the Amarok for professionals in the outdoor world, for people who earn their living or spend their free time there,” he said. “The international Stihl Timbersports Series is a good fit with the Amarok; it’s all about high performance, precision, know-how and stamina.”
In the Champions Trophy in Florence, the world’s top eight athletes battled it out in front of some 2,500 enthusiastic fans. The 2015 World Championship to be held in Poznań, Poland, in November is expected to draw approximately 7,000 spectators. Television audiences of several million worldwide have followed the Stihl Timbersports competitions for years on channels such as Eurosport. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles completes the international pool of Series sponsors, which also includes construction machinery manufacturer, Liebherr, the main sponsor of the World Championship; watchmaker Jacques Lemans; and garden tool manufacturer Viking.
“We are delighted to have Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as partner,” said Paul F. Sumalowitsch, in charge of international sponsorship for the Stihl Timbersports Series. “The two brands go together perfectly and enable us to tell exciting stories on all aspects of the sport and our products.”
Within the Volkswagen Group, the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand is responsible for the development, production and sales of light-commercial vehicles. The model range comprises urban delivery vehicles, transporters, MPVs, campervans and pick-up trucks. It is nearly 60 years since the foundation stone for the Hanover plant was laid – the main production site of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand. Commercial vehicles are currently produced at the group’s three locations in Hanover, Poznań in Poland, and Pacheco, Argentina. In 2014, the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand supplied more than 446,000 vehicles to customers around the world.
The Stihl Timbersports Series was launched in 1985 as an international competition series in lumberjack sports. It has its roots in Australia, where foresters have held traditional local wood-chopping contests since the 19th century. Over time, these contests have evolved into professional competitions on a high level of athleticism.
