Valencia, Spain. As racing for the 32nd America’s Cup is about to commence in Valencia, Spain, BMW has launched an auction of 32 unique artworks – with all the proceeds going to support under-privileged children in Latin America. This year sees the America’s Cup return to Europe for the first time in 156 years of competition. BMW ORACLE Racing is among the leading participants competing for the right to challenge defending champion Alinghi for the America’s Cup starting on 23 June. First a single Challenger must be selected from 11 teams, representing nine nations, who will race in the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination series, starting on April 16.

Located in the heart of the redeveloped Port America’s Cup in Valencia, the BMW ORACLE Racing base offers a spectacular environment for VIP guests and spectators. The team base is also on of the locations where BMW is displaying samples of the “32 Originals” – superb mementos of the 32nd America’s Cup. The collection of artworks comprises sections of a mainsail from BMW ORACLE Racing’s America’s Cup yacht, USA 87. Each piece is mounted and framed and comes with a plaque signed by a member of the racing team afterguard to confirm its authenticity and indicate where it came from on the mainsail. Three of the artworks are 150 X 100cm, while the remaining 29 are 60 X 42cm.

USA 87 made its racing debut in the Louis Vuitton Act 10 match race event in Valencia last year and won the regatta over 10 other challengers and the Swiss Defender, Alinghi. The artworks have been created from hand-selected sections of the 218 sq m mainsail used in that regatta.

The auction opened on April 1 and closes at midnight Central European Time on July 7. During that period, a sample artwork will be on display at the BMW ORACLE Racing base in Valencia, Spain. Photographs of all 32 pieces can also be seen online at www.bmw-32originals.com. Bidders can select the specific artwork of their choice and enter the auction. The format is a ‘silent auction’ in which the bids remain confidential. Each bidder therefore has only one chance to enter a bid – so they should take their best shot from the outset.

Bids can be made on-line at the auction website, or via terminals in the public area of the team base in Valencia, or on the BMW ORACLE Racing website (www.bmworacleracing.com). The minimum bid is 10 Euro. There is no upper limit.

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