Irish Olympic silver medal winner Annalise Murphy has renewed her association with Mercedes-Benz in Ireland as she begins preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, writes Trish Whelan.
As part of a ‘Tier One’ partnership arrangement that sees Mercedes-Benz retain its status as the only vehicle manufacturer supporting Annalise’s bid for further Olympic glory, the 26-year-old Irish sailing sensation will shortly take delivery of a 171 registered Vito Mixto van for use in transporting her team, herself and her equipment to events, here in Ireland and overseas.
Annalise says “The support of Mercedes-Benz, so valuable when preparing for the Rio Olympics, ensures my plans to go one better in Tokyo are off to a great start.”
Set to be a familiar sight at Laser Radial sailing events, the new extra-long 119E Vito comes with five leather-covered passenger seats, chrome grille, automatic cruise control and speed limiter, reversing camera, and a spacious load-carrying interior. The most powerful unit in the Vito range, the 119E is driven by a 190hp CDI diesel engine.
Annalise's first Vito van from Mercedes-Benz, with its stunning graphics, is pictured below.
The arrangement with Mercedes-Benz includes provision to display its three-pointed star logo on Annalise’s sails and clothing. “This ensures there’ll be a star - not just in the boat, but on the boat as well,” noted Fergus Conheady, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Ireland.
Annalise is pictured at the announcement her ‘Tier One’ partnership with Mercedes-Benz. With her are Fergus Conheady, commercial vehicles sales manager, and Stephen Byrne, chief executive.
