Formula Fashion on Stage - The BMW Sauber F1 Team Collection 2007 celebrates its launch in Barcelona.

Barcelona/Spain The BMW Sauber F1 Team presented the new BMW Sauber F1
Team Collection on May 12, 2007 in Barcelona for the occasion of the
first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Europe. On the eve of the Spanish Grand
Prix, trendy outfits for male and female motor sport fans, top-quality
leisurewear and various accessories in the classic white, blue and red
team colours were presented at an exciting show. Located right by
Barcelona harbour in the vicinity of the famous "Las Ramblas"
promenade, the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park offered the perfect
setting for the BMW Sauber F1 Team's fascinating show with its
authentic Formula 1 atmosphere. The audience included BMW Motorsport
Director Dr. Mario Theissen and Sebastian Vettel, test driver for the
BMW Sauber F1 Team. On the catwalk international models, most notably
the Brazilian top model Leticia Birkheuer, presented the dynamic looks
of the BMW Sauber F1 Team Collection 2007 to the invited guests. The
Collection is available from select BMW dealers and online at the
Pitshop at www.bmw-sauber-f1.com. The 29 year old Leticia Birkheuer
with German roots was discovered playing volleyball in her
South-American home country and achieved her breakthrough to the New
York runways in 2002. She has been running for top designers like
Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Ralph Lauren since as well as starring
in the Brazilian soap opera Belissima. With her body size of 1,80 m and
nearly perfect proportions, the Latina competes with top fellow models
such as Gisele Bündchen. Giorgio Armani even denominated her the
most beautiful model in the world. Twenty outfits from the "Grid
Looks" project, an exceptional collaboration between the BMW
Sauber F1 Team and the ESMOD international fashion school, also
celebrated their world premiere during the evening. The BMW Sauber F1
Team had invited second-year students from ESMOD to design creative
outfits for men and women for the BMW Sauber F1 Team Collection which
combine sportswear with couture and bring to life the fascination,
passion, sportsmanship and lifestyle of Formula 1. Twenty looks made
the final selection. A high-profile panel of experts then awarded
prizes to the four winning designs on March 5, 2007. In Barcelona the
young creators of the four best outfits were able to enjoy their
exciting prize twice as much: Not only were they able to experience
their prize-winning "Grid Looks", along with the other ESMOD
outfits, live on the catwalk during the BMW Sauber F1 Team Fashion
Show. The next day the successful fashion students were guests of
honour of the BMW Sauber F1 Team at the Spanish Grand Prix. The finale
of the fashion show in the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park was a
concert by the Spanish singer and actress Leonor Watling and her band
"Marlango". Afterwards DJs played soothing tunes and created a
relaxed party atmosphere. The evening's culinary highlights were
supplied by the catering service Feinkost Käfer. The Pit Lane
Park of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, however, offered far more than an
impressive backdrop for the launch of the new BMW Sauber F1 Team
Collection: From Friday to Sunday the 5,400 m2 high-tech theme park
offered enthusiasts the opportunity to experience "Formula 1 up
close and personal" - free of charge. Formula 1 fans from around
the world took advantage of this unique opportunity to immerse
themselves in the fascinating world of the king of motor sports. High
resolution photographic material can be downloaded from the BMW
PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com. For queries or information,
please contact: Susanne Spatz, Spokeswoman BMW PR Programme Phone: +49
(0)89,382 -20961, Fax: +49 (0)89 382-28017 www.press.bmwgroup.com