FEBRUARY 22, 2009

Renault looking to India for new sponsorship

Renault F1, which will lose title sponsor ING at the end of the season, is looking to India for a replacement. There are reports in the Indian media that a senior official in Renault India has confirmed a sponsorship approach to "a major Indian multinational".

Renault F1, which will lose title sponsor ING at the end of the season, is looking to India for a replacement. There are reports in the Indian media that a senior official in Renault India has confirmed a sponsorship approach to a major Indian multinational.

Indian companies are becoming targets for the F1 teams following Vijay Mallya's establishment of the Force India F1 team and plans for an Indian GP in 2011. Ferrari already has a deal with software firm Tata Consultancy Services.

There is speculation as to who might be involved but prime targets are likely to include Reliance Industries, which is a highly diversified corporation involved in oil and petrochemicals, clothing and food. There is also ONGC, the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, the most profitable corporation in India; Bharti Airtel, India's largest cellular service provider; and the high technology companies Wipro, Infosys, Satyam and HCL Technologies.