“We’re lucky to have a very experienced racing driver on board with Robert Kubica and to accompany him into a successful DTM series. Kubica was the first Polish Formula 1 driver and has proven his courage and endurance again and again. He is now venturing into new territory by racing at the DTM, a particularly important event series for motorsports in Germany. star and ORLEN are placing their bets on Robert Kubica as an athletic role model and ambassador. He perfectly represents the partnership between the two brands in Germany and Poland,” says Waldemar Bogusch, CEO of ORLEN Deutschland GmbH.

Robert Kubica will take to the track in his BMW M4 DTM of over 600 hp. The racing car primarily shows the colours white and red, in line with the new star ORLEN logo. The brand name will be clearly visible: both on the car and on the driver’s overalls and helmet, as well as on the technicians’ clothes, in the pit, and on the motorhome.

“The DTM is a high-level event, both technically and athletically. I’ve been considering racing at the DTM for a while now. During the tests in December, I immediately felt at home in the vehicle. That is absolutely crucial if you want to be faster than everyone else and really push your limits in this challenging racing series. I’m glad I have the opportunity to drive in the colours of the new team this season and to represent the star ORLEN team on Europe’s most famous racetracks. I’m counting on the support of Polish as well as German fans, and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed,” says Robert Kubica.

Part of the new co-branding strategy

“Our commitment to the DTM is closely linked to the German market, where the racing series is extremely popular. By sponsoring the DTM and the Dakar rally as well as supporting German drivers in the star ORLEN team, we are strengthening the recognition value of star ORLEN in Germany considerably,” says Waldemar Bogusch, CEO of ORLEN Deutschland.

The new co-branding concept of star and ORLEN will become even more visible at German petrol stations. It forms an important aspect of the brands’ strong position on the German market and the increased expansion of the petrol station network, particularly in southern Germany. The first petrol station in this region was opened in the Bavarian capital of Munich in autumn 2019, and the second one will follow in Kulmbach at the start of the 2020. This means that star is now represented in all German federal states.

All the petrol stations in Germany – more than 585 in total – underwent a co-branding process over the past months. In addition to the star brand, which is already well-known in Germany, the ORLEN logo now also appears on petrol pumps, price boards, and screens inside the petrol stations. As part of the international marketing strategy, the co-branding process will also be implemented for the 415 petrol stations in the Czech Republic and the ten stations in Slovakia, which trade under the brand name Benzina. ORLEN, the leading energy and mineral oil company in Central Eastern Europe, hereby aims to strengthen its brand recognition and make it clear that star forms part of a major chain with more than 2,800 petrol stations in five countries.

star – a strong brand from ORLEN Deutschland GmbH

star is the petrol station brand of ORLEN Deutschland GmbH, which has been on the German market since 2003 and is operating more than 580 petrol stations. The company, which is based in Elmshorn near Hamburg, is part of the Polish oil and energy group PKN ORLEN S.A., which is the largest enterprise in Central Eastern Europe (CEE), with an annual turnover of EUR 25 billion in 2018.

PKN ORLEN is a leading player on the fuel and energy market and is listed in prestigious global rankings such as Fortune Global 500, Platts TOP250 and Thompson Reuters TOP100.

The Group owns state-of-the-art integrated infrastructure, capable of producing more than 35 million tonnes of various crude oil types per annum and of marketing its products through the CEE-region’s largest network of more than 2,800 modern petrol stations. PKN ORLEN’s offering includes over 50 top-quality petrochemical and refining products sold in more than 90 countries around the world on 6 continents. 60 percent of the company's revenues are generated outside the country.

For the last few years, ORLEN has been established as the most valuable brand in Poland. PKN ORLEN is also the only company in the region that has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘The Most Ethical Company’ for the sixth time in a row by the American Ethisphere Institute.

Contact:
ORLEN Deutschland GmbH
Klaudia Pawlak
Press office:
Telephone: +49 (0)40-2022888616
pressestelle.orlen@serviceplan.com

​