What a weekend for Tequila Patron

Club Patron

For the PatrÂ¢n Spirits Company, there are few sports weekends bigger than the annual Tequila Patron American Le Mans at Long Beach. This Saturday’s second round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron will feature the top sports car racing series in the world and a venue that plays perfectly into Patron’s marketing strategy as well as its heritage.

“When Patron was first introduced in 1989, it was the people in Southern California who first embraced this brand before there was even such a thing as ultra-premium tequila," said Matt Carroll, chief marketing officer at PatrÂ¢n Spirits International. “We haven’t forgotten the role that this community has played in our success, and we’re always proud to support high-profile events throughout the area."

In addition to being the title sponsor of the ALMS race, it will also be the title sponsor for the worldwide telecast on both ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. For that investment, PatrÂ¢n will receive commercial inventory, on-air billboards and in-telecast distinction for the PatrÂ¢n Pit Stop.

The two-hour EPSN2 telecast will air from 2 to 4 p.m. PT (5 to 7 p.m. ET) Sunday. ESPN3.com and americanlemans.com will air qualifying live on Friday from 5 to 6:25 p.m. PT (8 to 9:25 p.m. ET) and the race live on Saturday from 4:15 to 6:45 p.m. PT (7:15 to 9:45 p.m. EDT).

Tequila PatrÂ¢n-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports team sports a brand new, eye-catching and bright livery on its two new Ferrari F458 Italias

The PatrÂ¢n colors also will be unmistakable throughout the weekend on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn Long Beach street circuit as the Tequila PatrÂ¢n-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports team sports a brand new, eye-catching and bright livery on its two new Ferrari F458 Italias. The sleek black Ferraris are splashed with PatrÂ¢n’s distinctive green colors and bee design. The No. 01 car will again be driven by team owner Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek. Behind the wheel of the No. 02 Ferrari is the duo of Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo.

The most significant – and many claim most enjoyable – part of race week is Club PatrÂ¢n. Located in the Main Midway within the race venue outside the Lifestyle Expo, Club PatrÂ¢n is open to anyone 21 years of age or older who want a place to meet, enjoy PatrÂ¢n refreshments such as PatrÂ¢n tequila, Ultimat vodka, and Pyrat rum cocktails, and talk about the race. It is a place to both see and be seen, with celebrities and distinguished guests from the race community frequenting the popular club.

“Club PatrÂ¢n was designed with race fans in mind. It’s a relaxed, open-air lounge located right in the center of the action at the track, adjacent to the paddock," added Carroll. “As the presenting sponsor and official spirit of the American Le Mans Series, this fully-contained mobile entertainment venue provides an ideal opportunity and location for people to come sample and enjoy our high-quality ultra-premium spirits."

“PatrÂ¢n adds so much to every race venue, “says Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila PatrÂ¢n, “but Long Beach and Southern California is a place where its relationship with the Series and fans makes an exceptional impact."

Simply Perfect in every way, PatrÂ¢n tequila is an ultra-premium luxury white spirit that’s
delicious on the rocks, and mixes flawlessly into most any cocktail. From the highest quality Weber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico; to the centuries-old distillation process; and to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, PatrÂ¢n is produced with unparalleled attention to detail.