New multi-year partnership adds next-generation on and off-track cybersecurity
Woburn, MA – July 14, 2017 – DS Virgin Racing and Kaspersky Lab today announced an innovative, new multi-year partnership that will see the global cybersecurity company protect the team’s devices against cyber threats.
The announcement was made in conjunction with Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson during DS Virgin Racing's pioneering Innovation Summit, held at Brooklyn’s New Lab facility where more than 250 of the city’s most influential business leaders gathered to discuss the role of business in tackling climate change.
The partnership, which begins on the eve of the inaugural Formula E race in New York, will see the team working with Kaspersky Lab to design and implement its world-class cybersecurity solutions to protect against known and unknown cyber threats.
“We’ve been looking at Formula E for some time now and feel it’s the logical next step for us in continuing to work with motorsport audiences,” said Eugene Kaspersky, chairman and CEO of Kaspersky Lab. “The DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team is the obvious choice for us. Both grounded in technological innovation, we also share similar vision and passion in bringing that innovation both to our customers and the world.”
In addition to supporting one of the founding teams in the fast-growing global sport of Formula E, Kaspersky Lab sees the technical environment as the next frontier in continuing its research and development of new technologies to keep connected and autonomous vehicles secured against cyber threats. The partnership will also see prominent branding on the team’s DS Virgin Racing cars, garage area and driver overalls.
Alexander Moiseev, CSO of Kaspersky Lab who made the announcement with Sir Richard Branson, said: “The progress we’ve made in automotive cybersecurity is in part due to our presence in motorsport; we use it as a testing ground for new concepts and ideas, which we then use in developing our solutions for the industry.”
Alex Tai, team principal of DS Virgin Racing, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Kaspersky Lab to ensure we are the best protected team on the grid. Indeed, as a leading global cybersecurity company with a rich heritage in motorsport, they are uniquely placed to protect the team’s technology and keep us ahead of the competition.”
For more information visit www.ds-virginracing.com or www.kms.racing.
Media Contacts
Tom Phillips, DS Virgin Racing
+44 (0) 7496 972965
tom.phillips@ds-virginracing.com
Jessica Bettencourt, Kaspersky Lab
781.503.7851
Jessica.Bettencourt@kaspersky.com
About Virgin Group
Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel & transportation, financial services, leisure & entertainment and health & wellness.
The DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team was one of the founding teams in the all-electric series, headed up by Team Principal Alex Tai and in partnership with French luxury car manufacturer DS Automobiles.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2017. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
About DS AUTOMOBILES
A French brand born in Paris, DS was founded on 1 June 2014. Its ambition is to embody the French know-how of luxury in its cars. Driven by its outstanding heritage and avant-garde spirit, DS perpetuates the values of innovation and distinction inherited from the first DS, launched in 1955.
Designed for customers looking for a means to express themselves as individuals, the DS Collection comprises DS 3, DS 3 CABRIO, DS 4, DS 4 CROSSBACK, DS 4S, DS 5, DS 5LS, DS 6 and completed with DS 7 CROSSBACK. The models in the DS range stand apart through their avant-garde design, refinement and attention to detail, advanced technology and dynamic serenity.
Presented at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, DS 7 CROSSBACK, the SUV by DS featuring Parisian-style innovation and savoir-faire, ushers in the second generation of DS models. With the DS 7 CROSSBACK La Première limited edition model, forward thinkers can reserve their car online or at a DS Store or DS Salon, and be the first to get behind the wheel. Committed to high-performance hybrid and electric cars, the Brand will launch the DS 7 CROSSBACK equipped with E-Tense, the hybrid powertrain by DS, in 2019.
DS models are available from DS Stores, DS Salons and a selection of other dedicated spaces within the Citroën network. DS also has a flagship store, DS WORLD PARIS. DS represents a brand experience that goes beyond the products to include ONLY YOU, a collection of exclusive services showcased at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
Follow all DS news on www.DSautomobiles.com@DS_Official
About the FIA Formula E Championship
The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first fully-electric single-seater racing series, competing on the streets against the backdrop of some of the most iconic cities - including Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Monaco, Paris, Berlin, New York and Montreal. The championship represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions. Future seasons will see the regulations open up further allowing manufacturers to focus on the development of motor and battery components, which in turn will filter down to everyday contemporary electric road vehicles.
The 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship sees 10 teams and 20 drivers go wheel-to-wheel in nine cities spanning five continents in the fight to be crowned Formula E champion. The inaugural season of Formula E sparked into life in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing. The third season of the electric street racing series started on October 9 in Hong Kong, with the season finale double-header taking place in Montreal on July 29 & 30.
About FIA & Michelin - Today’s partners for tomorrow’s mobility
As well as being the official Formula E tyre supplier, Michelin is an official partner, at the international level, of the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign. The programme is designed to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety initiated by the UN, the aim of which is to save five million lives over the next 10 years. This programme is set up to educate and advocate for safer roads, vehicles and behaviours around the globe.
