HVM Racing Invites Fans to Join the Ride

Open-wheel racing fans can now get an inside view of life with the HVM IndyCar Series team through an exciting new social media video program. In partnership with Soho – Social Media Consultancy and Zideo Media of the Netherlands, HVM Racing today launched the pilot episode of “Join the Ride," which was recorded at the Miami 2009 season finale and introduces the series for 2010.

The program is a series of user-generated content shot by a video crew that will follow the team during the coming Indy Racing League season. Each episode will feature HVM and its drivers in action from the point of view of a fan given inside access to the team, drivers and garages. All episodes will be globally available for viewing on the Web sites of both HVM (http://www.hvmracing.com/) and the Zideo Media platform (http://www.zideo.nl/ and http://www.zideo.co.uk/), while short teasers of the content will be distributed to generate awareness via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other relevant sites and blogs on the subject of open-wheel racing, the Indy Racing League and HVM Racing in particular.

“Having explored opportunities with Soho for the past two or three years, we are delighted with this concept, which launches HVM into social media marketing in a very strong way," said HVM team principal and owner Keith Wiggins. “Soho is an impressive leader in this most important field, and our partnership with them moves HVM further ahead in providing substantial networking and community media, which will be a real benefit for our sponsor partners as well as all our team connections and fans. The pilot, which is up on the Web sites now, is fast-moving and exciting and we are really looking forward to seeing the follow-up episodes from the 2010 races."

Leon Wittenberg, principal of Soho Consultancy, is equally enthusiastic.

“Having worked with HVM in the past, we are aware that they are an ideal execution partner and are delighted about the partnership we have formed," Wittenberg said. “Racing is hugely popular across a broad social spectrum and provides a dramatic setting with lots of fascinating insight possibilities. HVM opened up every possible door for us at Miami to the point where editing the pilot was difficult with so much content available! The interest already generated is huge and we are all looking forward to what can be achieved in 2010."

Watch the pilot episode on http://www.hvmracing.com/, http://www.zideo.nl/ or http://www.zideo.co.uk/.