MAM
Scooty Skipper races to glory at Red Bull Driving Licence
NOIDA: The inaugural Red Bull Driving Licence event revved into life at Galgotias University in Greater Noida on Saturday and it delivered every bit of the chaos, colour and cheek the brand is known for. Scooty Skipper, the spirited duo of Aazim and Karan Suwasia from New Delhi, blazed through the 200 metre obstacle course in a blistering 54 seconds to take top honours.
With more than 500 registrations pouring in, only 20 teams made the shortlist through their applications and video entries. The field was a lively mix, with motorsport and auto media names like PowerDrift, Evo India and Top Gear India joining the fray along with popular creators Just Neel Things and Focused Indian, giving the contest a broad and buzzing line up.
The race for the podium was tight. Team Singh, made up of Sandeev Singh and Naman Sahni, clinched second place with a sharp 57 second run. Team Alpha Pack from Vikaspuri, featuring Kapish and Chirag Tyagi, followed close behind in 58 seconds.
What made the event a spectacle was the course itself. Modelled on the delightful madness of Indian roads and turned into a safe but exaggerated playground, the route packed in everything from speed breakers and gravel pits to hawker lanes, footpath crossovers, auto rickshaw obstacles and even a police checkpoint. Creative costumes, loud cheers and a finish line styled like a toll booth added to the carnival atmosphere as riders collected their symbolic Red Bull licence.
Red Bull Driving Licence is designed as a quirky two member challenge that transforms everyday driving chaos into pure entertainment. Its Delhi NCR debut set a lively benchmark, mixing competition, comedy and controlled mayhem in classic Red Bull fashion. The engines may have cooled, but the energy it sparked is likely to fuel many more editions.
MAM
Publicis Groupe acquires sports marketing agency 160over90
Deal strengthens Publicis Sports with global scale and talent partnerships.
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has just scored a major goal in the sports marketing arena and this time, it’s not just about fans in the stands, but brands looking to win big. The French advertising giant has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 160over90, a leading global sports and culture-first agency that is part of WME Group. The move builds on Publicis Sports’ recent expansions, including the acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025, a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, and the launch of Influential Sports.
The combined Publicis Sports group will be led by Suzy Deering, CEO of Publicis Sports. Robbie Henchman, most recently President of 160over90, will stay with WME Group as Senior Partner and President of its brand representation business while overseeing the strategic partnership between WME Group and Publicis Groupe.
160over90 employs over 670 people across the US, UK, EMEA and APAC. It specialises in creating meaningful connections between brands, sports events, properties and culture. The sports media market is valued at $150 billion globally, while sports sponsorships have crossed $90 billion, yet many marketers still struggle with fragmented and outdated approaches.
With this acquisition, Publicis aims to offer brands a more unified solution through greater scale and reach across key markets, data-first optimisation powered by the Publicis Sports Intelligence platform, activation of the creator economy via Influential, and a new strategic talent and entertainment partnership with WME Group.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun described sport as one of the most high-value channels in the age of AI. “This acquisition is the latest demonstration of our ongoing commitment to investing in the channels and capabilities that deliver the highest value for our clients,” he said.
Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski added that sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community.
WME Group president and managing partner Mark Shapiro noted that combining 160over90 with Publicis Sports will create an unmatched offering for brands seeking deeper connections with sports fans.
In a fragmented sports marketing landscape, Publicis has clearly decided that the best way to win is to bring the whole team together turning scattered plays into one powerful, end-to-end strategy that connects brands to fans in meaningful and measurable ways.
