It is expected that the commercial revenues of A1 Grand Prix Team India will exceed $25million in the first two seasons. Only a handful of Indian companies are set to win the rights to sponsor the car.
Nimbus Sport, the international sports marketing agency, has decided in consultation with A1 Grand Prix, that Indian companies/brands will be given exclusive sponsorship access in a bid to develop a nationalistic feel to the team.
The India franchise has been secured by Indian-born South African tycoon Atul Gupta in partnership with the Bollywood star Anil Kapoor. The official launch of Team India will follow at the end of July.
This latest deal follows Nimbus Sport’s appointment by the Asian Bowling Tour and the Mumbai Cricket Association.
A major soccer partnership is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Harish Thawani, chairman, Nimbus Sport, said: “From the Indian market’s perspective we’ve done the biggest things in sport including the Cricket World Cup, but nothing has excited us at Nimbus Sport since the Cricket World Cup more than A1 Grand Prix. Racing is an easy sport to follow, and the nationalistic fervour will drive A1 GP far beyond the SEC A profile of F1 right into the Indian middle class’ hearts.”
All races will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports.
The new World Cup of Motorsport, A1 Grand Prix, will feature 25 national teams from across the world.
The first race is at Brands Hatch in the UK on September 25, 2005.
