Ahead of the first Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in 2009, the City-state’s flag carrier Etihad Airways has signed up to be a main sponsor for the Spyker Formula 1 racing team.
James Hogan, chief executive of the self-styled “national airline of the United Arab Emirates”, has signed a three-year partnership with Spyker in Melbourne ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Aldar, Abu Dhabi’s leading integrated property development company, has also become a main sponsor of the Dutch-owned, UK-based racing team.
Hogan says that securing a title sponsorship with one of the 11 teams will launch Etihad to a completely new level of consumer awareness, especially ahead of Abu Dhabi hosting its first Grand Prix in 2009. “Spyker is a small team determined to make a big mark in Formula 1 and all of us at Etihad are excited at the prospect of seeing Christian Albers and Adrian Sutil wear our livery and drive in the Etihad Aldar Spyker team this season.”
Etihad Airways and Aldar logos will have primary branding on the team’s cars from the Australia race onwards, and on team clothing and driver overalls from the Malaysian Grand Prix which is at the beginning of April.
Source: FlightGlobal.com