OCTOBER 15, 2004

BAR and Sinopec

It has been an open secret for sometime that British American Racing has been courting the Chinese oil company Sinopec and we hear that the deal was given extra impetus after the Chinese Grand Prix during which it became clear that while trackside signage is an effective way of advertising, backing a team is desirable if one wants to get a message across to the viewing public. We believe that a deal is now done with BAR for next year.

The China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) is the largest oil company in China and the world's sixth biggest petrochemical company and has international ambitions. At the launch of the company's sponsorship of the Chinese GP in Monaco the company president Wang Jiming voiced the company's ambitions.

"One day we hope that we will have our own team," he said Mr. Wang.