25 April 2019 - ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING AND THE FINANCIAL TIMES are pleased to announce a multi-year partnership. This will increase both organisations’ visibility among global, influential audiences and combine marketing assets, enabling the team's commercial partners to access integrated sponsorship and advertising solutions.
The deal sees the FT become an Official Partner of ROKiT Williams Racing ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It is the first time the FT has partnered with a team in Formula One, complementing the FT’s successful annual event and content series entitled 'The Business of Formula One'.
The FT logo will appear on the inside of the rear-wing end plate of the FW42 during the remainder of 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal of ROKiT Williams Racing said, “I am delighted to announce the Financial Times as an Official Partner to ROKiT Williams Racing. In only a few short years, the landscape for marketing and brand exposure has changed significantly for all sports, including Formula One. The opportunity to collaborate with the FT to embrace these new forms of media and digital opportunities is hugely exciting for both our team and our existing partners, and I am looking forward to seeing how the partnership develops.”
"This is a hugely exciting partnership between two iconic British brands, both operating globally and at the forefront of their respective fields,” said David Buttle, FT Global Commercial Marketing Director. “The innovative structure of this deal will both extend the FT's brand and bring together complementary commercial assets and capabilities.
We’re pleased to announce this at a landmark moment for both the FT - which recently secured its 1 millionth paying reader - and Formula One - which just held its thousandth race, in Shanghai."
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Notes to Editors:
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.
About Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC
Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC is the holding company of the Williams group of companies which includes Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited. The Group employs close to 800 people and generates its revenues from its long-standing Formula One business and its more recently developed Advanced Engineering operation. The Group's aim is to be a championship-winning Formula One team and a world-class engineering and technology business generating consistent and satisfactory returns for its shareholders.
About Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited's core competencies are the design and development of racing cars to compete in the Formula One World Championship. As one of the world's leading Formula One teams, the company has secured 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles since its foundation in 1977. Nine of these titles have been won in the Constructors' Championship in association with Cosworth, Honda and Renault. The remaining seven titles were won in the Drivers' Championship with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve.
Williams Advanced Engineering Limited
Williams Advanced Engineering Limited operates a technology and engineering services business and is part of the Williams Group.
In 2010, Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited began diversifying its operations, leading to the establishment of the Williams Advanced Engineering division, which has now become Williams Advanced Engineering Limited. Combining cutting edge technology and the industry's best engineers with precision and speed to market derived from four decades of success in the ultra-competitive environment of Formula One, Williams Advanced Engineering provides world class technical innovation, engineering, testing, manufacturing and operational consultancy services to the automotive, motorsport, aerospace, defence, health and energy sectors. Working in close collaboration with its customers, Williams Advanced Engineering helps meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century and improve performance, with its expertise in aerodynamics and thermodynamics, electrification, advanced lightweight materials and vehicle integration. The Company was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2018.
For more information, please contact:
Katrina Fedczuk - Communications Manager, Financial Times: katrina.fedczuk@ft.com
Sophie Ogg - Head of F1 Communications: +44 (0) 7977 275 762 // sophie.ogg@williamsf1.com
Emma Carden - F1 Press Officer: +44 (0) 7483 014 219 // emma.carden@williamsf1.com