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F1 racing team, Stewart Grand Prix went online today (Friday, 9th July) to mark the start of the British Grand Prix with the launch of their team website - http://www.stewart-ford.com which offers fans live updates and access to team news and information. Team drivers & web surfers Johnny Herbert and Rubens Barrichello were the first to navigate the site, demonstrating the speed of news delivery, with an impromptu Q&A session through the Secure Online News Information Service (SONIS), developed by Global Beach.
The team website is geared to capture the excitement of F1 and the hallmark styling of the Stewart-Ford team. Web site visitors launch straight into the driving seat of an SF3 during a fast-paced animated intro' sequence, watching the lights count down as they accelerate into the site.
The SF3's distinctive steering wheel merges from the starting sequence to form the site navigation panel, through which visitors access news and information about the team, car, history, sponsors, drivers and team management.
Driver Johnny Herbert commented: "The team site is a must for F1 fans - they can log on to get up-to-the-minute track news and gossip right through the race weekend - I don't know of any other F1 site that's offering this."
Leading digital communications agency and software developers Global Beach created the team website and are worldwide suppliers of SONIS. CEO Clive Jackson explained the thinking behind the site: "We aimed to develop an internet presence for the Stewart-Ford team that would reflect the key styling cues & technical excellence of the SF3 car, build a valued relationship between the team and their F1 following and deliver real business value to key sponsors".
Jackie Stewart, Chairman of Stewart Grand Prix, added: "In true SGP style, we aim to set new standards for fans and partner-sponsors by delivering a world-first technology feature in the motor racing arena - a real time news module to give our fans a truly unprecedented insight into the team. We're delighted to have Global Beach on board - its rare to find an innovative supplier who gets it so right, first time".
Today's website launch follows the recent signing of digital communications consultants, Global Beach, Jaguar's worldwide digital communications agency, in a two-year partnership deal to supply internet and new media services and marks stage one of a phased new media programme.
Under the terms of the agreement, Global Beach will focus on building a state-of-the-art team website and developing business-to-business & business-to-consumer relationship marketing activities across the internet.
The back-end system is held on a Hewlett Packard net server - Rick Parfitt F1 Programme Manager for Hewlett Packard commented: "Global Beach has worked with Hewlett Packard to develop a number of internet marketing solutions in the past and we know that they will prove to be an excellent partner for Stewart-Ford as they move into this exciting area of media services. By combining our leading net server technology, Hewlett Packard and Global Beach have created a solution for Stewart-Ford which will deliver real benefits to the team, supporters and fans everywhere."
The ISP and web hosting for the Stewart-ford.com site is provided by UUNET, whose director of global marketing - Cormac Whelan added: "As the Internet division of MCI WorldCom, a Stewart GP sponsor, UUNET is delighted to be able to offer its high-speed infrastructure to host the web site of Stewart GP, the most exciting F1 team to appear in recent years".
