RESOURCES FOR RACE DIRECTORS

Volkswagen Named the Official Automobile of the Atlanta Track Club

Multi-year partnership includes exposure at the three signature Atlanta Track Club events 

ATLANTA – May 3, 2012 – The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) has announced that Volkswagen has been named the official automobile of the ATC.  As part of the cross calendar, multi-year partnership, Volkswagen will not only provide pace cars to lead each of the ATC's three signature events, which include the AJC Peachtree Road Race on the Fourth of July, the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay in late October and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K on Thanksgiving Day, but also have significant consumer engagement opportunities.  

“Volkswagen is a brand known for its reliability and fuel-efficiency, both traits that are essential for the participants in our events,” said Tracey Russell, executive director of the Atlanta Track Club.  “We are proud to announce Volkswagen as our official automobile, and can’t wait to see the Volkswagen vehicles leading our professional field of runners at the 2012 AJC Peachtree Road Race.” 

As the official automobile of the ATC, Volkswagen will receive partner positioning and activation opportunities at the three ATC signature events, as well as exposure at the events in the ATC's premier series including the Resolution Run 5K/10K, the Atlanta Women's 5K, the AJC Peachtree Jr., Braves Country Father's Day 4-Miler, Atlanta’s Finest 5K and the Atlanta Ekiden Team Relay.   

“We are very excited to partner with the Atlanta Track Club as we further our shared commitment to promoting healthy and active lifestyles,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.  “In addition to operating some of the most iconic running events in the country, the Atlanta Track Club’s commitment to sustainability reflects our ‘Think Blue’ philosophy.  We look forward to joining with the Atlanta Track Club to offer consumers unique experiences that not only showcase Volkswagen’s fuel-efficient products and sustainable manufacturing practices, but also promote individual action and eco-friendly behavior.” 

The AJC Peachtree Road Race earned certification as a sustainable athletic event from the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) in 2011.  With more than 55,000 timed finishers, the event is the largest race to achieve this certification, and the Atlanta Track Club, organizer of more than 25 running events each year, is the largest race organizer to receive CRS certification. 

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About the Atlanta Track Club

The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) is a nonprofit organization established to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running. With more than 16,000 members, the ATC is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay (atlantamarathon.org), and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org), the Atlanta Track Club directs more than 25 running events per year.  Through the support of its members and volunteers, the Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through the ATC’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program.  For more information on the Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org. 

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.