The BMW WilliamsF1 Team has confirmed a major marketing and promotional partnership agreement with the Shanghai International Circuit (SIC) and the region's leading television network, CCTV ahead of the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on September 26, 2004. The partnership agreement includes on-car branding benefits for SIC & CCTV which will be visible on the FW26 race cars from the start of the 2004 Formula One season, which commences this weekend in Australia.
This highly visible presence for SIC/CCTV with one of the leading Formula One teams in the 2004 Championship will assist with the promotion of the first ever Grand Prix on Chinese soil.
Aside from providing SIC & CCTV with a global medium to communicate and promote the first race, the agreement also provides the BMW WilliamsF1 Team with extensive promotional and media benefits and opportunities in the region, which are regarded as invaluable to Western companies looking to establish a toe-hold in such a key emerging market.
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team was the first Formula One team to visit China in an official capacity following the formal confirmation of the Chinese Grand Prix, and a delegation from SIC was received by Frank Williams at the team's headquarters in summer 2003.
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team Principal, Frank Williams, commented, "The prospect of racing in China was attractive in itself, but this newly announced partnership will provide an extremely strong proposition for our sponsors who are looking for conduits into this marketplace, and as such, is very welcome."
Mr Mao Xiaohan, President of the Shanghai International Circuit Company confirmed this sentiment and reflected "This strategic alliance between Shanghai International Circuit and the BMW WilliamsF1 Team is excellent for Shanghai and of course the whole of China too. Bringing Formula One to Shanghai has opened the door for high profile companies like the BMW WilliamsF1 Team and this will benefit us as well as them."
BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen added "As a global player the BMW Group welcomes the worldwide expansion of Formula One. The Grand Prix of China will enable us to discover a new market for Formula One. Currently the country probably hosts the fastest growing economy of the world. BMW is very much looking forward do demonstrating it's technology performance in Shanghai."
The construction of the 5.45km Shanghai circuit is well advanced, with essential groundworks complete after 2million m3 of rock and substrata moved to create the track's foundation. The 12,000 tonne steelwork structure for the enormous main building is also well underway, and when complete will provide extensive facilities including the press centre and restaurants, control rooms etc. The top floor of this building will have a completed floor area equivalent of four football pitches. Six lane service roads to and from the track are complete and the construction of distinctive lotus leaf shaped pavilion stands are underway.
CCTV are the official domestic broadcasters of Formula One to a population of 1.4 billion, with CCTV audience penetration amounting to over 90% of households.
About Shanghai International CircuitSupported by the Shanghai Municipal Government, Shanghai International Circuit Co. Ltd was established in February 2002. Mr Chen Liangyu, the Mayor of the Shanghai Municipality, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony
The Shanghai International Circuit Co. Ltd. is a joint-venture company owned by Shanghai Jiushi Corp., Shanghai National Property Management Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Jia'an Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
The company's registered capital is RMB 800 million yuan, and the planning area of the project is 5.3 km2. The first stage of construction of the facility will cover 2.5km2 at a cost of RMB 2.65 billion yuan. The circuit will be completed in April 2004, in time to host the 2004 China Grand Prix. The remaining 2.8 km2 of land will be used for further multi-functional development for Formula One activities as well as automotive activities and sports and entertainment activities, and as such will provide a unique multi-faceted leisure facility for the region.
The intention of the Shanghai International Circuit Co., Ltd, through the staging of world class Formula One event, is to strengthen domestic and international cultural and sports communication, promoting Shanghai as a top sports city venue in Asia, providing numerous commercial opportunities to overseas and domestic investors. Emphasizing a culture of motor sport, Shanghai International Circuit Co. Ltd will provide year round sports, recreational and cultural activities for domestic and foreign visitors alike.
About CCTVChina Central Television (CCTV) is the national television station of the People's Republic of China. CCTV began trial broadcasting on May 1, 1958 and by September 2 of the same year went to official operation. In 1973, CCTV broadcast its first colour output.
CCTV features 11 channels with a daily air time of more than 200 hours. The programs span news, economics, the arts, music, sport, movies, military affairs, science and technology, agriculture and programs for children, which appear in 300 different time-slots. About 66% of the programming is produced by CCTV.
CCTV attracts more than 1billion viewers, with a coverage of 90.3% of the entire Chinese population. Its international and English-language channels are transmitted by satellite and are available almost universally around the world.
