MERCEDES-BENZ JOINS FORCES WITH ATK
Mercedes-Benz South Africa and local Esports giant ATK make history as they announce a partnership set to change the shape of gaming in South Africa. This monumental announcement marks the first ever motorsport partnership with Esports teams, events and gaming spaces in the country.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa will stand as the first motorsport sponsor for a South African Esports team in history; entering as a sponsor for the ATK League of Legends and Sim Racing teams, both top performers in their respective fields. Mercedes-Benz South Africa will also stand as an official sponsor of ATK Arena, a state-of-the-art gaming space based in Cape Town, South Africa kitted with the most advanced gaming technology available - bringing the professional gaming experience to the public.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa have moreover joined ATK in hosting one of the biggest Sim Racing series in Southern Africa, titled the Mercedes-Benz ATK Pro Series set to launch on the 12th of February 2021. The series invites top sim racers from around the country to battle for the title of South Africa's best Sim Racer. The winner will get the opportunity to represent South Africa at the FIA Motorsport Games in October 2021, marking the Mercedes-Benz ATK Pro Series as one of the most prestigious Sim Racing events in Africa. The Mercedes-Benz ATK Pro Series will invite drivers to race in a series of GT3 cars guided by a Mercedes-Benz GT4 pace vehicle.
ATK’s CEO Warren Barkhuizen remarked that the partnership between Mercedes-Benz South Africa and ATK represents not only a significant milestone for the South African gaming community, but Esports in its entirety. “We could not have hoped for a better partner to bring Esports to a wider audience whilst boosting the overall profile of gaming in South Africa and beyond. Having begun sponsored esports events such as ESL One since 2017, we are thrilled to announce a three-year partnership with Mercedes-Benz South Africa and will be proudly bearing the three-pointed star alongside as primary sponsor for select ATK Esport teams, venues and events. These brands unite to uphold the Mercedes-Benz vision in representing “The Best or Nothing”.
Strategically positioned under one of Mercedes-Benz key global brand pillars, esports continues to grow rapidly globally. Here in South Africa, Mercedes-Benz recognizes the potential of this market and have partnered with local gaming giants ATK to optimize its strategy to attract and leverage new audiences. "We are pleased by the interest of this digital generation for professional gaming and the new form of media consumption and communication within the gaming community. After several years of involvement in various esports initiatives, we have now decided to systematically take the next step", said Selvin Govender, Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
“With this partnership, Mercedes-Benz and ATK will push the boundaries between virtual and reality showcasing the latest in innovation in a bid to challenge the way we once thought about performance and gaming, Govender concluded.
