BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 29, 2021) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today Manitou North America, has returned to the team. Their GEHL brand will be an associate sponsor of Graham Rahal’s No. 15 Honda-powered entry for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. GEHL will also be featured on Rahal and his crew’s uniforms for the season as well as the race car for the doubleheaders at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). The MANITOU brand will be featured on the race car for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“We are excited to partner with RLL and Graham Rahal,” said Ilmars Nartish, vice president of Manitou North America. “Having our iconic brands of GEHL and MANITOU featured on the car strengthens our brand awareness and adds excitement for our dealers and customers.”
GEHL was an associate sponsor of the team’s INDYCAR SERIES program from 2006-2008 and again for the 2014 season. In 2017, they were primary sponsor of Rahal’s entry at Iowa Speedway and co-primary at Road America and primary sponsor of his entry at Road America in 2018 and 2019. Manitou North America is a producer of GEHL and MANITOU branded equipment for construction, agriculture, mining, aeronautics, energy industries and beyond. In addition, GEHL is in their 16th year of involvement with Graham Rahal, whom they have supported since his 2006 Atlantic Championship season where he was runner up to the champion.
“I’m really excited to see the relationship continue to grow between Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and GEHL and welcome them back to the family again this year,” said Graham Rahal. “They have personally been a partner of mine since 2006 and have been the longest standing partnership I’ve had. I’m honored to continue to work with them and help grow their business!”
“I have worked with Manitou North America for many years before being involved with them at RLL,” said Mike Lanigan, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal and former late night talk show host David Letterman. “To see our partnership continue over the years is something we are very proud of. We look to continue to build our program and help strengthen relationships and business opportunities.”
In addition to its relationship with RLL and driver Graham Rahal, Manitou North America has been active in motorsports for many years. They have been the “Official Construction Equipment” of the Grand Prix of Long Beach for 26 years and is celebrating their 32nd year of involvement with Road America in 2021.
The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues with the Genesys 300 at TMS, which will be broadcast live on NBCSN on May 1 at 7 p.m. ET and the XPEL 375 at TMS which will be broadcast live on NBCSN on May 2 at 5 p.m. ET. Rahal’s win at TMS in 2016 earned him a place in the record books as his margin of victory of 0.0080 of a second over James Hinchcliffe remains the closest in TMS history.
About Manitou North America
Manitou North America is a subsidiary of Manitou Group. Manitou Group is a worldwide reference in the handling, access platforms and earthmoving. By improving workplace conditions, safety, and performance, our environment remains renewable and sustainable for mankind. Through its 3 iconic brands – Manitou, GEHL and Mustang by Manitou – the group develops, manufactures, and provides equipment and services for the construction, agriculture, and industrial markets. By constantly innovating its products & services, Manitou Group constantly adds value to exceed its stakeholders’ expectations. Always attuned to its customers via its expert network of over 1,050 dealers, the group continues to be true to its roots by keeping its headquarters in France. That focus, which powered sales to €1.6 billion in 2020, informs its talented worldwide team of 4,400 whose passion ceaselessly motivates the group.
About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and Brownsburg, Ind., is co-owned by three-time
IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2021, the team begins its 30th year of competition and will attempt to add to its 29 Indy car wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato — their 33 poles, 107 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 – Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. Since 2014, BMW Team RLL has competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program and has brought their total to 22 wins – including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 28 poles and 91 podium finishes as well as a second-place finish in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017. The team was also the 2020 Michelin Endurance Champions. For 2021, the team will compete for back-to-back Michelin Endurance Championships.