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McLaren Automotive displayed its sizzling 570S model during the ‘Ride with the Team’ cycling event organised by Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team.
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat is the majority shareholder of the McLaren Group and the British sports car marque considers the kingdom as its second home.
The stunning vehicle took to the streets and highways of Bahrain on Friday and debuted the team’s new livery as the official pace car leading the way for the world-renowned athletes and cycling enthusiasts living in the kingdom.
The car’s appearance at the event celebrated the partnership between McLaren and Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team and followed the announcement of a joint venture in December 2018.
The Ride with the Team parade witnessed more than 200 cyclists follow the McLaren 570S on a route of over 30km taking in many of the kingdom’s iconic landmarks. The goal of the event was to help promote a healthy lifestyle in Bahrain, as well as bring the team closer to the people.
“We are extremely proud to have showcased the dramatic McLaren 570S during the Ride with the Team event. The car has taken to the streets to a phenomenal reception and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team for a chance to collaborate. We wish them the best of success for the 2019 season,” said Brett Soso, MD of Middle East, Africa & Latin America for McLaren Automotive.
The McLaren 570S sits within the brand’s Sports Series range and was selected due to its ‘dramatic design combined with class-leading everyday usability and manoeuvrability, including at lower speeds and in city traffic’, Brett added.
The car generates 570S PS from its 3.8-litre twin turbo-charged V8 engine, which in conjunction with its lowest-in-class dry weight of 1,313 kg translates to impressive acceleration of just 3.2 seconds from 0-100 km/h.
McLaren Automotive operates globally via a network of dedicated retail partners, including McLaren Bahrain situated in Tubli.
Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group. Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey, England.
As reported in Motoring Weekly, 2017 saw the company launch further models including the second-generation Super Series, the 570S Spider and the McLaren Senna. In 2018, the company unveiled the 600LT and the first two cars of Track25, the McLaren Speedtail, the next Ultimate Series and McLaren’s first ever Hyper-GT, and 720S Spider.
For more details visit https://cars.mclaren.com, www.bahrain.mclaren.com or call 80007878.
Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team is one of the first cycling teams to be based in the Middle East.
The project started almost four years ago, with a casual bike ride in the desert of Bahrain between His Highness Shaikh Nasser, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, president of Bahrain Olympic Committee, and Italian professional racer Vincenzo Nibali.
In 2017 the team was founded through a consortium of business partners from Bahrain and major cycling company Merida.
Last season the team recorded 26 wins and dozens of placings. Competing around six continents at the highest level of cycling, proudly wearing the colours of Bahrain, means that the team has received wide-ranging sports coverage helping to promote the kingdom on the international stage.
The goals for 2019 are even higher, the team says, and being a Bahrain team – supported by numerous Bahraini sponsors and the local community – the determined aim is to develop a top Bahraini rider for the team within the next five years.
