Lack of corporate sponsor has forced illbruck to pull out of the America’s Cup Challenge
In a report on the New Zealand Herald website, it was announced that the organisers of Germany’s first challenge for yachting’s America’s Cup are quitting all preparations for their campaign.
“Intensive efforts to find a corporate sponsor have been unsuccessful,” said Michael Illbruck, CEO of the international company illbruck GmbH and chairman of the illbruck Challenge.
He continued: “the decision to discontinue plans to challenge for the America’s Cup, which starts in October in Auckland with the Louis Vuitton challenger selection series, will have no impact on the team’s current participation in the Volvo Ocean Race.”
The withdrawal of the German bid means there are now nine challengers for the America’s Cup – the number of challenger bases available at the Viaduct Basin.