26/03/2011
NEWS STORY
Formula One's sponsors could certainly do with some assistance right now. Given that the world's economies haven't yet fully recovered from the recent recession, companies which put their marketing money behind any sports sponsorship are taking a bit of a gamble right now. Riding to their rescue in F1 is an unexpected ally.
F1 sponsors often have a stream of questions, from who to contact to get footage of the sport to which countries will be next to host races. Teams address many of the same kind of questions and concerns to their association FOTA and sponsors can now do the same thing.
In response to an enquiry about FOTA's aims for this year its secretary general Simone Perillo says "there are a range of commitments that allow us to support the positions/goals of teams' partners, ranging from the promotion of the development of Formula One and enhancement of its worldwide image and reputation to cooperation with the FIA and the commercial rights holder."
Perillo says that FOTA's overall objective is to "promote initiatives that support all involved parties/stakeholders, either directly linked to the teams (investors, sponsors, car manufacturers) or indirectly - media, fans, wider public." Its support services are open to all teams and this is believed to be the reason why Ferrari has declined to take part in other F1 sponsor organisations.
"I do not feel it appropriate to multiply the presence of Ferrari in organizations which have the same goals," says Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, explaining that "within the statute of FOTA there is already the commitment to help our partners, which are vital to us, to make the difference in our sport and there are already other bodies, like the F1 Commission, where the sponsors can represent their needs to the main stakeholders of Formula 1." Time will tell just how much impact it can have.