INDIANAPOLIS, May 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Industry leading, global solar panel manufacturer Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) has become a sponsor of actor/racer Patrick Dempsey's Dempsey Racing Team. Together, the two organizations will establish a solar charity initiative. The initiative will increase Trina Solar's brand awareness in the United States through the sponsorship and promotion of Patrick and the other Dempsey Racing drivers as solar ambassadors who will appear at different events, including the Indianapolis 500 ("Indy 500"), America's premier and most viewed automobile race.
Through this collaboration, Trina Solar has identified Dempsey Racing as a preferred motor racing property that complies with the Company's principles. Trina Solar also has become an associate sponsor of the Sam Schmidt Motorsports, the Centennial Indy 500 Pole winning car of Alex Tagliani, and the car of fourth position starter, Townsend Bell.
"We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Dempsey Racing and to have their drivers as our solar ambassadors," said Robert Muhn, Senior Director of Sales (Americas). "This alliance, in conjunction with our charity projects, will bring solar to the general public in the US and around the world. Trina Solar and Dempsey Racing look forward to a long and successful relationship."
"The 2011 season has already been a fantastic year for Dempsey Racing, and it continues to get better as we join with Trina Solar in the pursuit of excellence on and off the track," Dempsey said. "The future of our sport and our world lies in clean, renewable energy, and we've been looking for partners who can help myself and the team actively promote these technologies on a worldwide scale. We are excited to be allied with Trina Solar."
While Trina Solar is already committed to a two-car team in Formula One, this association is expected to elevate the company's brand in North America through the IndyCar series races and wherever the races are shown globally on television, while promoting the wide-scale adoption of sustainable technologies. The IndyCar Series is the first in motorsports to use 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in its engines.
The sponsorship will take the form of on-car logo branding on the engine cover of the Dallara/Honda, ensuring excellent opportunities for worldwide marketing exposure.
"We are honored to be associated with Trina Solar and the clean, renewable energy industry," said Sam Schmidt. "Though we are a small racing team, I attribute our success to the fact that we align ourselves with quality companies like Trina Solar."
Trina Solar's association with Mr. Dempsey extends the solar manufacturer's momentum as the Company expands its leadership role in raising solar awareness throughout the world.
About Trina Solar Limited
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), is a leading manufacturer of high quality modules and has a long history as a solar PV pioneer since it was founded in 1997 as a system installation company. Trina Solar is one of the few PV manufacturers that have developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. Trina Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally-friendly electric power for a growing variety of end-user applications worldwide. For the North American market, Trina Solar has established its regional headquarters in San Jose, California. For further information, please visit Trina Solar's website at http://www.trinasolar.com.
About Dempsey Racing
A fulltime and year-round enterprise, Dempsey Racing www.dempseyracing.net is a professional auto racing team based in the greater Atlanta area in Norcross, Georgia. Owned by actor/driver Patrick Dempsey, the race and championship-winning team was established in late 2002 and currently competes in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The operation is housed in a 10,000 square foot shop facility equipped with all of the engineering, fabrication and materials to build a complete race car in addition to supporting a two-car operation for an entire racing season.
About Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) was established in 2001 and is owned by former driver Sam Schmidt, who was paralyzed (quad) in 2000 after a testing accident at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla. As a car owner, Schmidt fields cars in the Firestone Indy Lights Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500. SSM is the most successful team in Firestone Indy Lights with 37 race wins and four championships. In addition, SSM has qualified 10 cars in the Indianapolis 500 since 2001. Visit www.samschmidtmotorsports.com for more information.
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) was started in 2000. SSPF is leading the charge to cure paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances, benefiting stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. For more information, visit www.samschmidt.org.
Contact:
Trina Solar public relations contact
Mr. Ben Delman
+1 (703) 302-8389
bdelman@tigercomm.us
SOURCE Trina Solar Limited
