JULY 16, 2003

Williams closes Budweiser sponsorship deal

BMW Williams has announced a multiyear sponsorship with Budweiser beer brewed by Anheuser-Busch, Inc, dubbing the "King of Beers" an "official sponsor" of the team. The Budweiser logo will now be displayed on both of the FW25's driven by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, as well as on driver and team uniforms. The agreement also will have rights to use drivers' images, the team logo and cars in advertising and sales promotions.

Budweiser currently sponsors many motorsport teams and usually has an eye for success. In the past 14 years Bud Racing teams have produced 36 national and world championships. When Juan Pablo Montoya became the first rookie since 1966 to win the Indianapolis 500 in 2000, they were an associate sponsor of the team. The brand is also an "official beer" sponsor of NASCAR, the NHRA, as well as NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Miss Budweiser unlimited hydroplane team, and the NHRA's Kenny Bernstein.

The news comes after two very successful races for the Williams team, dominating the 1 and 2 positions at both the European Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix. Now Budweiser hopes to capitalize on the success of the team. "Our sponsorship of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team enable Budweiser to reach a global audience of racing fans by leveraging the resources and marketing expertise of two industry leaders," says Tony Ponturo, the vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "For more than 25 years, WilliamsF1 has been synonymous with the best in Formula One racing, and we look forward to continuing the team's winning tradition at this weekend's British Grand Prix."

BMW WilliamsF1 Team Principal, Sir Frank Williams who has spent time in recent weeks negotiating the deal said, "Budweiser is one of the world's most admired and identifiable brands, and of course has an impressive history as a patron of motor racing. I represent the whole team in saying that we feel extremely privileged to form a commercial alliance with a brand of this stature and importance."