Compania Espanola de Petroleos SA : The wraps come off STR7

Nota de prensa

The wraps come off STR7

As the sun set on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in southern Spain this evening, the spotlight turned to the Scuderia Toro Rosso garage as team sponsor CEPSA hosted the unveiling of the STR7. Taking the wraps off the new car that will defend the team's colours in this year's Formula 1 World Championship were the team's drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, with help from CEPSA Co-Chairman, Santiago Bergareche.

The STR7, as its name implies, is the seventh car to bear the Scuderia Toro Rosso name in Formula 1 and is actually the third to be conceived and designed entirely in-house in Faenza and at the wind tunnel facility in Bicester, UK.

Santiago Bergareche: "The launch of this new car and our continued support of the team is a pivotal moment for CEPSA. It represents a major leap forward in our international expansion as Scuderia Toro Rosso will carry our name around the globe while it tackles the 2012 World Championship. CEPSA is a firm supporter of Formula 1, the very highest level of motor sport, because it represents the best possible showcase for technology and innovation in our sphere of activity. We at CEPSA, believe that Scuderia Toro Rosso shares many of our values and we look forward to enjoying a successful and mutually beneficial partnership throughout the year." Franz Tost: "A new car unveiled by two new drivers. The day before testing starts, we can claim to know more about the drivers than the car! It's too early to make predictions for the coming season, although clearly our aim is to score more points and finish higher in the championship than in 2011. The team has continued to expand over the past year in terms of our facility in Faenza and also in the number of staff who work there, so we are in better shape than at any time in our seven year history."

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Daniel Ricciardo: "The car definitely looks sexy. And it's a bit emotional actually, seeing the first F1 car that will be mine to drive from the start of the season. With the new nose, it's not exactly beautiful, but I'd rather have a quick car than a pretty one. Now I can't wait to drive it tomorrow, when I don't think I'll need an alarm clock to wake up to start the day." Jean-Eric Vergne: "After the testing and all the work in the simulator, being here in Jerez unveiling the car, I feel like this is the real start to my Formula 1 career. It's very exciting and the next two days are going to seem much too long, while I wait to get behind the wheel of the new car on Thursday and Friday."

For interviews with the drivers and key personnel, click on "STR7 Fact File" on www.tororosso.com.

Madrid, february 7th, 2012

For further information:

CEPSA - Dirección de Comunicación y Relaciones Institucionales Scuderia Toro Rosso Comunicación Corporativa [e-mail] Tel. [phone]

Tel: [phone] www.tororosso.com
www.cepsa.com

CEPSA is an energy group with a workforce of nearly 12,000 employees, engaged in activities that span the entire oil value chain: exploration and production of oil and gas; refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum products and natural gas; biofuels; and electric power cogeneration and sales. CEPSA additionally has a world-class chemicals division that is tightly integrated with its oil refining segment, manufacturing and selling feedstock for the production of high value-added components chiefly used in making new-generation plastics and biodegradable detergents. CEPSA is one of the major energy players in Spain, but it is also broadening its global portfolio of operations in countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Panama, Peru and Portugal, selling its products around the world.

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