Bangkok--18 Jan--Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide AsPac Oil (Thailand) Limited, manufacturer and sole distributor of Castrol lubricants, announced its 2008 innovative marketing program to enhance Castrol brand and its connection to wider consumers with strong focus on ‘sport marketing’. The program encompasses global sponsorship of the UEFA EURO 2008TM tournament, the biggest sponsorship deal in the company’s history, along with local engagement in TV reality show — ‘Intelligent Family Challenge’ and fun activity - ‘Penalty Kick’. “Football is a sport that tests performance on the pitch. Castrol means performance on the road. Our business philosophy mirrors the high performance world of football,” said Paul Turner, Regional Sales Director, AsPac Oil, “Through football which is one of the world’s most popular sports that win billions of people hearts, Castrol will be able to closely connect with our customers. At the same time, we bring our customers closer to the sports that they are passionate about.” Based on the sport marketing platform, Castrol’s marketing activities bears the theme of “Castrol EURO 2008 Experience and Beyond”. Castrol will run a special campaign ‘Castrol Golden Ticket to EURO 2008’ where lucky customers will win a special hospitality package to watch the semi-final and the final UEFA EURO 2008? matches live at the stadium in Austria in June. Interested persons can send in a cap of any Castrol lubricant products to P.O. Box 111 Por Nor Sor Nonthaburi 11000 during January 15 to March 31, 2008. The drawing will be held on April 8, 2008 and the result will be published in Khao Sod newspaper on April 11, 2008. To enable customers to connect with the game physically as well as emotionally, Castrol has developed another medium for those who want to be involved intellectually. The ‘Castrol Performance Index’ is a new player performance index designed to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the game for football fans. The data — which is exclusive to Castrol - includes statistics produced by a new UEFA tracking system that can instantly convey the area covered by a player or team, exactly how substitutions can alter the shape of the team and the speed of the ball. Fans can log onto the site and access the full statistics from the quarterfinal stage onwards at www.castrolindex.com. In an effort to provide its customers with greater fun, Castrol has garnered support from Thailand’s three well-known soccer experts and aficionados, veteran heartthrob/actor Saksith Tangthong, extrovert sports commentator Akkarath Kengtuktang and one of Thailand's most talented footballer Zico - Kiatisak Senamuang, as “Team Castrol” for Thailand. The three celebrities will help spice up all promotional activities conducted under Castrol EURO 2008 campaign during its six month period. “Sports bring out passion in people and Castrol just made football a whole lot more exciting for fans here. I am thrilled to be part of the selection course to select representatives from Thailand. It’s a great way to get in the game,” said Zico. In order to create brand exposure to wider audience in Thailand, Castrol also plans to host a reality TV program — ‘Intelligent Family Challenge’, in which the family contestants are challenged with different searching missions where innovation in key to win the game. The contestants will have to take an adventurous journey to search for the intelligent molecules. The winner will win a 7-seater family SUV Ford Everest. Parents, aged between 35 - 40 years old, with children aged between 8 — 15 years, are encouraged to participate in the game. Twenty-five applicants will be tested for linguistics, bodily kinesthetic, spatial, logical, natural, musical, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. Only seven families will be recruited to be on the show. “Intelligent Family Challenge” will be aired on Channel 9 very Sunday from 3.00 - 3.30 pm from 6 April — 29 June 2008. “The show deliberately communicates Castrol’s ‘Experience and Beyond’ concept as well as the engineering aspects and innovation behind the success of Castrol products. Everything that Castrol does and every oil that it makes, from Castrol Magnatec which contains intelligent molecules to the Trizone Technology in Castrol Power 1, is based on using every bit of knowledge and expertise we have to make the best engine lubricant possible. We hope this reality show will connect Castrol brand with the audience and general consumers,” said Mr. Turner. Interested families are invited to apply at Castrol booths at 20 office buildings around Bangkok or at any Auto Service outlets nationwide from 7-20 January 2008. For more information, call 0 2374 0383 from 5-31 January 2008. Another activity, “Penalty Kick” is a competition game specially devised for motorcycle technicians, considerably essential Castrol product endorsers, who are also enthusiast football fans. The game provides participants with an opportunity to test their football skills and performance such as ball handling skill and speed on the pitch. Interested persons can bring a Castrol lubricant bottle cap to win the right to enter into this fun competition. More details about the game will be announced soon. “We are set to do something that has never been done before to strengthen customer relationship with world-class experience and reinforce Castrol’s association to everyone’s daily life,” Mr. Turner added. For further information : Ekasit Thaidej ([email protected]) AsPac Oil (Thailand) Limited Tel. 0 2684 3541 Jintana Duangkaew ([email protected]) Surasa Khlaiaksorn ([email protected]) Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Ltd. Tel. 0 2205 6653, 0 2205 6626