Virgin to sponsor Brawn? [Archive]

V12

26th March 2009, 14:16

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article5980935.ece

well well well...

Of course it may just be hot air, but we'll see, The Times aren't too bad in my experience as far as UK newspapers go (OK they don't have a good general standard)

Apparently under the deal, which will be announced officially tomorrow, the cars will carry extensive branding but it will not be a title sponsorship arrangement. Either way very interesting news if true!

Knock-on

26th March 2009, 14:22

ArrowsFA1

26th March 2009, 14:23

Well, the Times does tend to be used by Bernie to release stories he wants out there, so there may be some truth in this.

Great news for Brawn GP if there is :s mokin:

ChrisS

26th March 2009, 14:42

Their Austalian GP preview pdf lists the following companies in the footer

Bridgestone
Perkin Elmer
AlpineStars
Ciber
Cytec
Endless
IBM
Laverstoke Park
STL

http://www2.brawngp.com/pdf/aus-preview.pdf

Dave B

26th March 2009, 14:57

Let's hope there are no unfortunate safety car incidents this year, then. The last thing we want is Vettel ramming a Virgin up the rear :\

Giuseppe F1

26th March 2009, 15:34

Let's hope there are no unfortunate safety car incidents this year, then. The last thing we want is Vettel ramming a Virgin up the rear :\

Classic! Nice one, Dave :)

ioan

26th March 2009, 16:22

Let's hope there are no unfortunate safety car incidents this year, then. The last thing we want is Vettel ramming a Virgin up the rear :\

Why use Vettel and not Red Bull?

Garry Walker

26th March 2009, 16:45

Why use Vettel and not Red Bull?

Because he is the most likely one to do it, with him being so crash-prone and all.

ioan

26th March 2009, 17:03

Because he is the most likely one to do it, with him being so crash-prone and all.

I'm having trouble to remember when he crashed into someone last time, was it before or after he won a Formula 1 GP?!

veeten

26th March 2009, 17:04

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73920

that last sentence speaks to the financial costs of buying up the Brackley outfit versus the sponsor deal with Brawn being the better way to go.

Don't be surprised if others do the same with existing and upcoming teams in similar deals.

Dave B

26th March 2009, 17:54

Why use Vettel and not Red Bull?
Oh good lord lighten up, it was a frivolous joke. Ok then, Webber. Better?

Garry Walker

26th March 2009, 18:02

Oh good lord lighten up, it was a frivolous joke. Ok then, Webber. Better?

Ioan has no sense of humour when it comes to Vettel, as proven by how easily he took the bait I threw out :D

ioan

26th March 2009, 18:27

Oh good lord lighten up, it was a frivolous joke. Ok then, Webber. Better?

It had nothing to do with drivers, I just thought Bull was more appropriate, and IMO using Webber is making the joke worse than with Vettel.

You see I knew it was a joke. ;)

Same for Garry Walker.

ioan

26th March 2009, 18:28

Ioan has no sense of humour when it comes to Vettel, as proven by how easily he took the bait I threw out :D

Read my answer to Dave, and do something with your poor bait (aka gratuitous bashing).

Robinho

26th March 2009, 18:44

Vettel did hit someone up the rear under safety car before didn't he? adds a bit of history to the joke, thats all

Sonic

26th March 2009, 21:25

Bad to the topic boyz ;) :p :

Whilst I would welcome Virgin's entry into the sport it strikes me as a wee bit two faced that two months ago "F1 would have to change for Virgin to enter" to becomeing lead sponsor (which to the casual fan is much the same thing as owning the team).

V12

26th March 2009, 21:45

Sonic

26th March 2009, 22:38

I'd say the same about the manufacturers too, actually.

Agreed.

Robinho

26th March 2009, 22:41

autosport and others have it as a story not a rumour nowm including Branson flying out now to finaliset he deal and the cars running the branding by Sunday - that would be quite the coup

Dave B

27th March 2009, 02:43

Five Live are also reporting that Branson is "on the guest list" for the weekend.

This could well be the final link in Brawn's chain, they've clearly got a great car and some talented individuals; now all they need is some working capital.

christophulus

27th March 2009, 09:14

dj_bytedisaster

27th March 2009, 10:39

It seems to be a foregone conclusion, although I'm sure we'll find out later today.

The big question surely has to be how they're going to get the red Virgin colours on without ruining the striking livery on the car! :p :

Well, lets face it - it'll have to go. When changing a livery means more money, that car will change its appearance in a damn hurry ;)
It would really be a coup if they would change the livery after the deal is finalized, although that would have to happen before the qualifying (parc ferme and all). But on the other hand the midget scumbag called Berhard E. would probably use that as an excuse to disqualify them :( Anyone remember the bruhaha about BAR's different liveries a couple years back? Wow would that be bait for the evil midget if they changed liveries during a GP...

27th March 2009, 13:30

To be honest I prefer it when sponsors just supply the money in exchange for exposure without meddling in owning a team and running it, just like the good old days.

I'd say the same about the manufacturers too, actually.

Eh?....in the good old days, there were only manufacturers. Maserati, Lancia, Ferrari (ok, so they only produced race cars but they did chassis & engine), Mercedes-Benz.....bloody hell, even Vanwall made their own engine.

27th March 2009, 14:33

Looking forward to seeing the Virgin livery. The Brawn car is quite good looking considering the "ugly" rules for this year, but when are they going to ban those stupid wheel cover thingies? They look awful and don't add anything to the spectacle of the sport!

AndyL

27th March 2009, 14:36

It seems to be a foregone conclusion, although I'm sure we'll find out later today.

The big question surely has to be how they're going to get the red Virgin colours on without ruining the striking livery on the car! :p :

I think the Virgin Atlantic colour scheme would look great on the car - mainly white, red tail section with Virgin logo plus a few other red accents, and the graphic of the girl flying the union jack on the side.
http://image50.webshots.com/50/8/74/46/412887446OkzWpt_ph.jpg

Knock-on

27th March 2009, 14:49

Also, Henri Lloyd has come onboard as a sponsor

ioan

27th March 2009, 15:23

V12

27th March 2009, 16:19

Eh?....in the good old days, there were only manufacturers. Maserati, Lancia, Ferrari (ok, so they only produced race cars but they did chassis & engine), Mercedes-Benz.....bloody hell, even Vanwall made their own engine.

:D My bad - I didn't qualify "good old days" as the era when I first started following F1, a time of McLaren-Hondas, Williams-Renault/Hondas, Benetton-Fords, Brabham-BMWs, Lotus-Renaults etc. Probably the wrong term to have used but oh well.

As you say, Ferrari were a racing team first and road car manufacturer second, but I think the same applies to Maserati as well. Vanwall did not (as far as I know) build road cars and were basically a specialist constructor that just happened to build the engine as well.

Still, from the end of the 50s to the turn of the millennium F1 was the domain of the specialist race team/constructor, be that in partnership with a major manufacturer or not.

In any case it's good to see Brawn and Williams, the only two organisations whose primary function is to exist as a F1 team (if we consider Force India merely another section of Mallya's massive portfolio of businesses and sports teams) - both running well in Australia, and good to see Brawn's financial position looking secure too.

UltimateDanGTR

27th March 2009, 17:48

Eh?....in the good old days, there were only manufacturers. Maserati, Lancia, Ferrari (ok, so they only produced race cars but they did chassis & engine), Mercedes-Benz.....bloody hell, even Vanwall made their own engine.

In the good old days? How many times have I heard that? :rolleyes: :D

I mean 30 years ago, did we say: back in the good old days..........

and I wonder if 20 years down the lien we will say: Ah, do you remember Hamilton winning his first championship? werent they the good old days.....

We'll have to wait and see........... :confused:

CNR

28th March 2009, 05:35

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has confirmed its involvement in Formula One as a major sponsor of the Brawn GP team

Dave B

28th March 2009, 05:38

The Virgin stickers look a bit out of place on the car, but I'm sure they've got a proper livery lined up as soon as they get time to apply it :up:

UltimateDanGTR

28th March 2009, 08:27

Great news this Brawn now have safe backing so they can be succesful. Thank you Beardy.

18000rpm

28th March 2009, 08:33

That would be a bad name.

UltimateDanGTR

28th March 2009, 08:35

Yes they shouldnt rename the team Virgin Brawn GP, would be shamfelu for brawn! :D

Cozzie

28th March 2009, 08:37

Yes they shouldnt rename the team Virgin Brawn GP, would be shamfelu for brawn! :D

It might just happen though...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73974

V12

28th March 2009, 08:42

Well - the deal is done, Virgin stickers were slapped on Jenson and Rubens' cars for qualifying and I'm sure come the next race a definitive livery will be came up with.

One thing I'm a little confused about though - read this news item on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7969435.stm

As part of the deal ...... the car will be renamed the Virgin BGP 001.

So what is that, the cars are officially going to be called Virgins? I'd be disappointed if the Brawn name went since Ross is very much the guy running the show and I was under the impression that Branson was getting involved in a good old fashioned cash for advertising/exposure deal. Or is the car's type designation going to be "Virgin BGP 001" and the make still Brawn? Sounds a bit long winded if you ask me. If you ask me they should just stick Virgin at the start of the team's official entrant name, cover the car in Virgin logos and be done with it :)

Dave B

28th March 2009, 08:55

The team won't be renamed: that would require the unanimous approval of the other teams, and I can't see them being all that well-disposed to the newcomers who just upstaged the lot of them!

F1boat

28th March 2009, 09:05

Sir Richard Branson and Ross Brawn are formidable combo. I wish them best luck.

UltimateDanGTR

28th March 2009, 09:06

It will be hilarious to watch Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello walking round in their drivers suits with a massive 'virgin' on the front. Branson really didnt think it through when naming his company did he.

Ranger

28th March 2009, 09:11

Dave B

28th March 2009, 09:13

Branson really didnt think it through when naming his company did he.
On the contrary: by calling it a single word which in itself isn't remotely rude, but lends itself to all manner of double-entendres, he guarantees the name will be talked about.

UltimateDanGTR

28th March 2009, 09:14

very good point. and I spose he could of called it things alot worse, actually he did think about it alot didnt he. Damn I was wrong!

V12

28th March 2009, 11:18

How long before the "and there's Jenson Button getting into his Virgin" puns start? :D

AJP

28th March 2009, 11:38

There were a few people who shot me down very quickly when I suggested this a couple of weeks ago :)

http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131958&page=3

I'm really happy with this partnership. I think it will be similar to the glory days of Jordan. A fun team to be around. I wish I could get a job with them...

Good luck to them, but from todays performance, it looks like they are doing just fine :)

Dave B

28th March 2009, 11:47

I find Richard Branson hilarious.

He jets off to Australia and only sponsors a team when its guaranteed that it will be up the front.

The next minute he says F1 should be using 'green alternative fuel'. This is coming from someone who runs an airline FGS!.

Funny, funny man.
Almost as funny as Bridgestone putting a green stripe on tyres which they fly all round the world in 747s to take part in a fossil-fuel buring competition; or Toyota claiming a Prius is green when the (harmful) nickel in the batteries goes on a journey which would make Alan Whicker proud before ending up in a car with worse economy than some diesels :p

V12

28th March 2009, 12:26

To be fair I think Honda's "Earth Cars" took the biscuit as far as phoney environmental pandering went, I'm glad to see the back of them :D

Malbec

28th March 2009, 13:47

The next minute he says F1 should be using 'green alternative fuel'. This is coming from someone who runs an airline FGS!.

Yep, in today's interview with Autosport he claims he already has a green fuel he'd like to have standard in F1, according to him the new fuel doesn't even emit carbon! And whats more, it only took a Virgin subsiduary a couple of years to come up with it.

Right, either Branson has revolutionised motoring in one easy swoop or his grasp of science is a little slippery.....

V12

29th March 2009, 05:00

I've been thinking a bit more about the potential name change of Brawn to Virgin.

It's become clear to me over the past 24 hours from message boards (this and others) fan sites, Facebook, talking to friends etc. that Brawn is quickly building up quite the cult following. I think Branson would be wise to tap into this and just become a title sponsor rather than naming the team outright, obviously the two names would be linked in the same way that Vodafone, McLaren and Mercedes are, but IMO anyway in the past couple of weeks the Brawn name has gone from sounding strange and awkward to just sounding "right".

dj_bytedisaster

29th March 2009, 05:28

@V12

Ross doesn't need to build a cult following, he's been a living legend for quite a while now :D
Germanies F1 broadcaster RTL has been home of the "Rotkäppchen" (little red riding hoods) - that's what we call them Schumacher fanboys - but ever since they also were absolutely Ross Brawn fans :) Yesterday I think Ross Brawn was mentioned like every couple of minutes. Not many of the team staff members really rise to stardom, but Ross Brawn certainly is a household name. Some of his strategies in the past were pure genius - if Button and Barichello are able to get them realized, they surely will collect a couple of trophies this year :D

V12

29th March 2009, 06:11

Sorry I meant Brawn as in the team rather than Ross himself. I see what you mean though and I think even if Branson/Virgin take over the team Branson seems to have his head screwed on and you'd have to guess he'd leave Brawn to get on with it which is good, I guess I'm just old fashioned and like to see teams named after proper racing people like Williams and the like rather than your Red Bulls of the world :)

grantb4

29th March 2009, 06:50

Malbec

29th March 2009, 07:37

I think Branson would be wise to tap into this and just become a title sponsor rather than naming the team outright, obviously the two names would be linked in the same way that Vodafone, McLaren and Mercedes are, but IMO anyway in the past couple of weeks the Brawn name has gone from sounding strange and awkward to just sounding "right".

Branson made what I thought was quite a rude comment in an interview yesterday, he stateed that everyone knew the team had a great engineer so there was no need to name the team after him (Brawn).

He's beginning to irritate me already. So far in his BBC appearances you'd have thought Branson had designed and built the car himself, he seems to have forgotten that his formal relationiship with the team only started yesterday.

TMorel

29th March 2009, 11:13

I like Branson and the Virgin brand but the only time I hit mute today was when Richard was talking as it just seemed a load of absolute bollocks every time he opened his mouth
I think he should go with the Panasonic Toyota / Vodafone McLaren route and then just shut up. Heck, I'd rather listen to John Bunsen and Anthony Hamilton !

V12

29th March 2009, 11:18

Branson made what I thought was quite a rude comment in an interview yesterday, he stateed that everyone knew the team had a great engineer so there was no need to name the team after him (Brawn).

Yeah that got the wind right up my tail as well. Branson would be well advised to recognise that this is the result you get when a proper, efficient racing team headed by proper racing people is left to get on with it. A straightforward sponsorship deal would IMO benefit all parties more, by all means plaster the cars, driver overalls, motor homes and hospitality areas with as many Virgin stickers as you want but please, please please leave it at that.

Ranger

29th March 2009, 11:19

Branson made what I thought was quite a rude comment in an interview yesterday, he stateed that everyone knew the team had a great engineer so there was no need to name the team after him (Brawn).

He's beginning to irritate me already. So far in his BBC appearances you'd have thought Branson had designed and built the car himself, he seems to have forgotten that his formal relationiship with the team only started yesterday.

I just read that on Autosport. What a cock. Not that it wasn't obvious already.

Ranger

29th March 2009, 11:25

Yeah that got the wind right up my tail as well. Branson would be well advised to recognise that this is the result you get when a proper, efficient racing team headed by proper racing people is left to get on with it. A straightforward sponsorship deal would IMO benefit all parties more, by all means plaster the cars, driver overalls, motor homes and hospitality areas with as many Virgin stickers as you want but please, please please leave it at that.
Fortunately Ross and Nick aren't muppets.

Come to think of it, I wonder what Bernie is feeling right now?

m.lowe

29th March 2009, 12:11

I wonder what Bernie is feeling right now?

Himself?

Good luck to Brawn and the Virgin deal
Can't wait to see the scale models of this years cars as I want a virgin, sorry I mean a Brawn :-)

VkmSpouge

29th March 2009, 14:48

Sir Richard Branson really knew the right time to step in when he saw it :D

Dave B

29th March 2009, 14:55

Branson made what I thought was quite a rude comment in an interview yesterday, he stateed that everyone knew the team had a great engineer so there was no need to name the team after him (Brawn).
Was that just after he said "b...ard", claiming he didn't realise he was on TV? I mean, it's not as if the cameraman, sound man and production runner give any hints. :dozey: