MARCH 7, 2003

Williams and Western Union

The Williams F1 team has given details of another innovative multi-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship deal - with nothing appearing on the cars!

The Western Union - a global money transfer business - will use the association with WilliamsF1 to promote more business and to improve the image of the company. It is felt that the high speed, high technology image of F1 is the kind of image that Western Union wishes to put forward. The company will also host guests at many Grands Prix around the world in an effort to generate more business. The deal also includes a personal sponsorship deal with Juan Pablo Montoya.

Williams has pioneered such deals in recent years, notably with the soft drinks company 7Up. McLaren too has used similar deals with the drinks company Schweppes.

We hear on the grapevine that Williams is in heavy discussions with a major new sponsor but the team is unwilling to give any hints as to who this might be.