Alibaba Cloud Forms Strategic Partnership with Famed Formula One World Champion Driver Fernando Alonso

Fueling karting with Cloud and AI technology

Oviedo , Spain, July 18, 2018 – Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, today entered a key partnership with two-time Formula One (F1) world champion Fernando Alonso to digitize Alonso's karting business and promote one of the world's most exciting sports. The partnership was struck through the champion's official global karting partner Yi Qian Communications in China.

The signing ceremony was held in Spain and attended by Yeming Wang, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Europe, Fernando Alonso, who came to fame in 2005 as the youngest world championship winner, and Max Chen, Managing Director of Yi Qian Communications.

Alibaba Cloud, which is the official Olympics Cloud Services Partner, is committed to enabling the sports industry in the digital era. Through this partnership, Alibaba Cloud will use its technology to transform existing karting training and venues currently operated by Fernando Alonso's partner in China.

Alibaba Cloud will also apply smart manufacturing capabilities such as cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies in the company's kart assembly plants in China to improve manufacturing efficiency and support the establishment of unmanned intelligent assembly plants.

Powered by cloud computing, all data generated by karting players on the field will be turned into insights - in real time. This could help team managers, coaches and players gather deeper knowledge about their performance instantaneously and design training programs to accommodate for the unique physique of each individual. The improved efficiency and quality of training will help foster the next generation of Chinese karting racers as well as racers worldwide.

Furthermore, Alibaba Cloud and Fernando Alonso's China partner will co-organize a Tianchi Big Data Competition, a big data crowd intelligence platform that brings together global data experts to collaborate and compete in developing solutions for real world problems. Contestants will be provided with cloud computing resources and track records from Alonso's karting schools for them to develop better karting training solutions to "discover the next Alonso".

Yeming Wang, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Europe said: "The sports industry has been increasingly applying cloud technologies in many ways, across areas such as wearable devices, training, tactical decision making, game operation as well as venue management. Alibaba Cloud strongly believes in the potential of technology to empower sports, which is why we are excited to work with Mr. Alonso, who has inspired a lot of people in China to participate in karting. By leveraging our strong cloud, AI and IoT capabilities, karting lovers and operators in China will benefit from more effective training programs and smarter facilities, which will also play a part in helping to grow the sport in China."

Fernando Alonso said: "As a professional and a passionate lover of the sport, I wanted to promote karting to more people in China and around the world. I am fascinated by how technology can transform the sports industry and eager to bring the best technology to karting. By working together with Alibaba Cloud and Yi Qian Communications, we will be able to provide better training programs, manage our facilities more efficiently, so as to attract more participants to the exciting sport."

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com), the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, is among the world’s top three IaaS providers according to Gartner, and the largest provider of public cloud services in China, according to IDC. Alibaba Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services to businesses worldwide, including merchants doing business on Alibaba Group marketplaces, start-ups, corporations and government organizations. Alibaba Cloud is the official Cloud Services Partner of the International Olympic Committee.