UK: RAC unveils new celebrity ad campaign

RAC is launching a new multi-million pound TV advertising campaign featuring legendary hard men Vinnie Jones and Lennox Lewis.

RAC is launching a new multi-million pound TV advertising campaign featuring legendary hard men Vinnie Jones and Lennox Lewis.

The campaign, RAC to the Rescue, aims to bring the brand’s "heroism" to the wider RAC product offering, showing how RAC can come to the rescue of drivers at any point of their motoring experience.

The two new films, which will roll-out from Boxing Day, focus on RAC Rescue and RAC Direct Insurance products.

The rescue film, which features Vinnie Jones and his wife Tanya on screen together for the first time ever, sends up the Hollywood tough guy reputation of the star. The ad shows the couple breakdown on their way to a party, where Vinnie takes on the macho role and flees the car to find help. Vinnie battles in the dark, through rain and thunder to no avail, whilst his wife calmly calls RAC for help. The downtrodden Vinnie flags down a passing vehicle, only to find it’s his own vehicle, fixed by the mild-mannered patrol.

The RAC Direct Insurance film plays on the reputedly fierce reputation of Lennox Lewis to illustrate the brand’s tailored insurance offering. The huge boxing star is seen on the phone, trying to get a quote from RAC. When asked if he has secure parking the scene cuts to a VW beetle, surrounded by four burly bodyguards. The film ends as Lennox and his entourage uncomfortably pile into the tiny vehicle.

Commenting on the launch, Alastair Pegg, marketing director for RAC said: “The new campaign brings the day to day work of our patrols to life, contrasting the widely known hard man reputation of its stars with the real life, daily heroism of the rescue teams. Indeed, RAC to the Rescue is a platform for us to demonstrate our commitment to looking after the needs of motorists in all situations, from our RAC Direct Insurance offer through to RAC Rescue.”

The rescue film will run as a 60 second treatment, with a 30 second cut down and the insurance film will run as a 30 second treatment with a 10 second cut down. The new commercials have been created by AMV BBDO and are directed by James Griffith.

The RAC to the Rescue campaign, which has a media spend in excess of Ł20 million, will run throughout 2007.

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RAC Press office contact:

Liz Kennett 
Telephone: 01603 688263/07800 699667 

Amanda Glover 
Telephone: 0207 908 6462

Notes to editors:

About RAC
With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections and checks, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists’ needs. RAC incorporates BSM, RAC Auto Windscreens, RAC Direct Insurance and HPI.

Aviva bought RAC in May 2005. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance (part of Aviva). Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer, insuring one in seven motor vehicles and with a market share of around 15%.

RAC’s news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.racnews.co.uk.