Williams secures with Genworth
The American insurance company Genworth has decided to invest in Williams. This should be just the first in a series of announcements from the Grove team.
During the Jerez tests, the single-seater driven by Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa was almost devoid of any sponsors. But it seems that this situation is not expected to continue throughout the 2014 season.
It begins today with the arrival of the American insurer Genworth. This Fortune 500 company has decided to invest in F1 to expose itself to a global audience, particularly in key markets like Latin America or China. Peter Barrett, the global head of Genworth’s personal insurance division, commented on this agreement: Williams, with its strong ideals and foundations on which it is based, aligns with Genworth’s core values. Our partnership with Williams provides Genworth with a powerful global platform that aligns with our global presence, connects us to a new audience, and will ensure opportunities to connect with clients through the comprehensive coverage that Formula 1 receives worldwide.
This partnership will materialize with the presence of the insurer’s logo on the side of the rear wing and the suits of the two team drivers, as well as on those of all the team members.
Other sponsors could arrive in the coming weeks, starting with Brazilian companies, as Williams wants to maximize the profit from Felipe Massa’s arrival. The Brazilian driver is currently on a media tour in his home country. Such a visit could also be used to finalize some negotiations. There is talk of a possible arrival of the oil company Petrobras, which was already one of the team’s sponsors when it used BMW engines.
Another source of income could come from Banco do Brasil, which is one of the biggest supporters of another Brazilian driver, Felipe Nasr. When we met him exclusively at the Monza Grand Prix, he told us he might be interested in a third-driver position if he couldn’t secure a main driving seat: « It’s always better to be racing. If you’re in a position to become a third driver, you need to look at the opportunities you have for testing. But I would prefer to have a competitive program. »
Finally, a rumor that has become increasingly persistent in recent weeks is the arrival of Martini. The alcohol brand gained fame during the 1970s and 1980s when it was a sponsor in many automotive categories, notably at Le Mans with Porsche or in rallying with Lancia. A major agreement could be announced by the start of the season, which might result in a radical change of the FW36’s livery. This would align with the strategy desired by the Bacardi Martini group, which aims to expand into markets other than just Europe.
With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr
