The Formula 1 team, Scuderia AlphaTauri has announced an exclusive one-time event association with Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., bringing the GUNDAM franchise to the F1 circuit for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo will be displaying Gundam decals of the RX-78-2 GUNDAM and XVX-016 GUNDAM Aerial on the headrests of the AT04 as they compete for points over the Las Vegas Strip Circuit next weekend.
The collaboration with Bandai Namco’s GUNDAM brand stretches beyond standard Formula 1 sponsorship and will involve thrilling activations during the Las Vegas Grand Prix that are surely going to be recalled by many. Fans will have the opportunity to see almost ten-foot towering GUNDAM sculptures on display around the team’s amenities, as well as a promotional video featuring driver Yuki Tsunoda in a famous GUNDAM-inspired racing costume, along with the decals on the racing vehicles.
Also celebrating the collaboration is a one-of-a-kind, personalised Perfect-Grade Unleashed model of the Mobile Suit RX-78-2 GUNDAM with distinctive Scuderia AlphaTauri decals and colours. All new GUNDAM highlights for the Las Vegas event, comprising RX-78-2 and Yuki Tsunoda artwork influenced by Scuderia AlphaTauri, have also been produced. Elara by Hilton and The Park by MGM will have two GUNDAM BASE POP-UP Stores throughout the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for the race weekend.
Karim Farghaly, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc, commented, “One of the longest running Sci-Fi franchises in the world, GUNDAM has always been able to connect with fans all around the globe with its featured themes of heroism, standing up to adversity, and overcoming tremendous odds, mirroring in fiction the real-life challenges F1 drivers face each and every race. We partnered with Scuderia AlphaTauri because of their vision and cooperation to help bring GUNDAM to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, in a way that will be memorable and meaningful to both F1 fans and GUNDAM fans alike.”
Since its inception in 1979, the GUNDAM brand has revolved around talented pilots operating technologically sophisticated aircraft, matching the same technical vision that the Bandai Namco GUNDAM team sees in Formula 1 racing. The GUNDAM brand includes a range of toys and collectibles, animated shows, feature-length films, and video games.
Fabian Wrabetz, Director of Marketing and Communication, Scuderia AlphaTauri, said, “GUNDAM is a globally recognized and beloved media franchise with passionate fans in every corner of the world. We immediately embraced the GUNDAM spirit and are delighted to welcome them as a partner of Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. This will be a collaboration to remember with multiple on and off-track activations that will push the limits of fan engagement in a fun and exciting way.”