McLaren to run with dampers provided by KONI

Team McLaren Mercedes is pleased to confirm that it will run with dampers provided by KONI during the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship season. The announcement marks the start of a long-term relationship that sees KONI become Official Supplier of Automotive Dampers to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

“We are delighted that KONI is joining our world class group of Official Suppliers by working with us to integrate what we believe is the next generation in damping technology to our race car. We have been running with KONI dampers since the San Marino Grand Prix in the 2006 season, and there has been a focus in our test program on collaborative development between ourselves and KONI with regards to FSD dampers. We are looking forward to continuing this relationship into the 2007 Championship.”

“I'm very pleased about our Official Supplier position with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in 2007, Even though KONI has been an official supplier to Formula One racing since 1958, each person in Formula 1 recognizes that Team McLaren Mercedes forms a league of its own. Team McLaren Mercedes' engagement in the joint development of our breakthrough suspension technology FSD, has been inspiring and our engineering teams have made such impressive progress during the last 6 months, that we expect FSD to be a major differentiator. At the start of the 2007 season KONI will have been in business for 150 years and is looking forward to challenging for victory with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in this season of our anniversary.”

About KONI

KONI was founded in 1857 by A.A. de Koning. Based in Oud Beijerland in the Netherlands , the company initially manufactured horse harnesses and upholstery. By 1918 production began for radiators and spring covers and later for metal car panel beating and spraying. In 1932 KONI started working on friction shock absorbers. In 1944 a manifold for cars was the first product bearing the name KONI. In 1948 the factory produced its first adjustable telescopic shock absorbers for cars and trucks, soon followed by specially designed dampers for railway rolling stock.

Since 1950 KONI has developed from a skilled small local company into a multi-national shock absorber specialist with subsidiaries in France , Germany and the U.S.A. and with independent national distributors and agents in more than 90 countries in the world. In 1972, ITT Corporation NY, USA , a global multi-industry company acquired KONI now being a part of its Motion & Flow Control segment. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Corporation's common stock is traded on the Midwest, Pacific, London , Frankfurt and Paris exchanges.

Today KONI is recognized world-wide as the quality shock absorber specialist par excellence, focusing solely on high performing suspension-damping technology for Cars, Racing, Specialty Trucks, Busses, Trailers, Locomotives and Railway Rolling Stock. KONI shock absorbers and ride systems are, unlike from other manufacturers, specially designed for each and every application without any compromise to quality, durability and available best technology to fulfill the highest requirements for comfort, safety and vehicle (handling) performance.