JULY 4, 2008

BP joins the Olympics

BP has been a major supporter of motorsport over the years dating back to the early days of the sport. At the end of the 1960s the company quit F1 and concentrated on other formulae, but returned to F1 in 1983 with the Toleman team.

BP has been a major supporter of motorsport over the years dating back to the early days of the sport. At the end of the 1960s the company quit F1 and concentrated on other formulae, but returned to F1 in 1983 with the Toleman team. This was followed by an involvement with the Beatrice team and then a collection of small sponsorships into the early 1990s. At the end of 1994 the company withdrew from Grand Prix racing again and has not been back since, although its subsidiary Castrol is still involved. BP is involved in rallying.

It has also just announced that it has been signed up as major partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Teh deal is believed to be worth around $100m.

One has to ask why this money is not being spent in F1, particularly when cash is needed for projects such as the British GP.