Motorsport
Features
How oil giant Shell is using Nissan’s Formula E team to reposition itself for the energy future
Kevin McCullagh looks at oil company Shell's entrance into the realm of electric motor racing and how it is marketing its diversification into electric vehicle charging and other ‘new energy’ products.
Agag’s political skills make way for Reigle’s audience acumen as Formula E tries to build on first ever profit
Former Manchester United executive Jamie Reigle replaced Alejandro Agag as the chief executive of Formula E this September with the Spaniard becoming the chairman of the electric racing series. The pair tell SportBusiness about their plans for the motorsport in their first joint interview since the leadership restructure.
Vietnam makes $475m bet to join Singapore on F1’s Southeast Asia lineup
The organisers of the upcoming Vietnam Grand Prix will spend $475m to join the F1 lineup in Southeast Asia, according to research by Formula Money. SportBusiness takes a closer look at the economics.
Formula E closing the gap on Formula 1 as a sponsorship proposition
Sponsorship deal values in Formula E are catching up with Formula One according to Robin Fenwick, founder of specialist motorsport agency Right Formula. Matthew Glendinning reports.
McLaren’s new commercial chief Mark Waller is bringing lessons from American sport
Mark Waller joined McLaren Racing in May from the NFL, becoming the British motorsport team's managing director of sales and marketing. He's relishing his new role, and sees opportunities to drive the business forward in adding consumer-facing sponsors, creating more digital content, and expanding the team's already impressive esports programme.
Formula E buoyed by Julius Baer and Saudia sponsorship renewals
Swiss private banking group Julius Baer has agreed a two-season extension to its global sponsorship of Formula E, while the electric racing series has retained Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) as title…
ROKiT enters Formula E with Venturi Racing
The ROK Group has furthered its presence in motorsport, with its ROKiT telco brand agreeing a three-year title sponsorship deal with Formula E team Venturi Racing
IMG terminates Americas Rallycross Championship
The IMG agency has announced it will end its Americas Rallycross Championship (ARX) having failed to reach an agreement with commercial partners to secure its long-term future
Sony acquires rights for real and virtual X1 Racing League
Sony Pictures Networks has acquired media rights in the Indian subcontinent for the country's new X1 Racing League motorsports series, and its sister esports competition X1 Racing eSports
In era of racing sponsor retreats, Chevrolet doubles down on activation
The North American auto industry’s increasing gravitation toward crossover sport utility vehicles, trucks, and electric vehicles has lessened the natural link between the “stock car” element of auto racing, making the sport now a more fertile sponsorship area for brands in other product sectors.
Virtual advertising technology unlocks split sponsorship inventory and multi-lingual graphics for Formula One
Formula One is likely to implement virtual advertising more widely in its global broadcast feed following its sponsorship and data rights partnership with ISG. But the sport needs to be careful not to fall foul of broadcast regulations concerning product placement. Ben Cronin reports
Nascar searching for new ways to return to relevance after decade of decline
Organisers admit they 'lost their way' by alienating core fanbase
TV ratings and attendances down significantly, while many sponsors have left
James Barclay, Jaguar Racing | “Formula E is the perfect platform to tell the world about our electrification expertise”
Ahead of the fourth round of the Formula E season in Mexico, James Barclay, team director, Jaguar Racing, gave a manufacturer’s take on why the electric motor racing series is proving so appealing to car brands and non-endemic sponsors.
Liberty demonstrates its Asian ambitions with Hanoi Grand Prix announcement
Hanoi will host a Grand Prix in 2020 after first expressing interest in 2016
‘Mission-driven’ all-female W Series hopes to attract free-to-air coverage and purpose-beyond-profit sponsorship
• Event promises to provide a platform for female drivers to succeed in F1
• Series will underwrite costs of all the drivers
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Formula One enlists biometric testing to better understand its TV audience
Formula One is working with market research group Populus on biometric studies of the live TV audience during grand prix coverage. Jonathan Dyson reports on how the work is being carried out and how the results are being used.
IMG confident Circuit of Americas investment will help World Rallycross to go global
Agency funds 'multi-million pound' circuit at Austin facility to bring series to United States
New potential sponsors already in discussions to partner with World RX following move
Audience research drives F1 to brings fans closer with city-based festivals
Formula One’s director of marketing and communications Ellie Norman tells Ben Cronin why the sport’s series of city-based Fan Festivals aim to make it more accessible to audiences and promote it beyond the confines of a Grand Prix weekend.
US Digest | Woods-Mickelson showdown set for Thanksgiving weekend
Welcome to the US Digest, rounding up the big news and developments coming out of the world’s biggest sports market
Woods-Mickelson showdown set for Thanksgiving weekend
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US sports tweak rules and presentation to keep audiences hooked
US major leagues are tweaking their rules to make sure fans stay tuned in as concerns build about distracted audiences. Data is playing a critical role, with leading rights-holders employing sophisticated, data-led decision-making to make the changes.
US Digest | FIFA World Cup ratings recovering from rough start
In this week's US sports industry round-up: FIFA World Cup ratings recovering from rough start | Rhode Island legalizes sports gaming | NASCAR looking at changing sponsorship model
China Digest | LPGA confirms replacement for failed Alisports tournament
In this week's China sports industry round-up: LPGA confirms replacement for failed Alisports tournament; SAIC Motor strikes Chinese Super League deal; and Vivo lays out World Cup activations
SportBusiness International May 2018
In this month's issue we cover the following:
GDPR – How rights holders are preparing for the new data privacy regulations
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From exposure to engagement | F1 uses new tool to price its sponsorship assets
Formula 1 is using a new proprietary tool to provide a more holistic valuation of its sponsorship assets. Ben Cronin speaks to the sport's head of global sponsorship and commercial partnerships Murray Barnett and developer Rob Mills about how it works.
SportBusiness International October/November 2017
In this issue we cover the following:
SEAN BRATCHES – Formula One’s new commercial chief speaks exclusively to SportBusiness International
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Sean Bratches: ‘If we can serve the fan, all the manifestations of our business will benefit’
In a wide-ranging interview with SportBusiness International's Ben Cronin, Sean Bratches, Formula One's managing director of commercial operations, outlines the sport's ambitious plans, from esports to OTT and sponsorship.
New power | How the electric vehicle revolution is changing motorsport
With governments, manufacturers and consumers opening up to electric, motorsport is already preparing for a post-petrol and diesel age. Andy Fry reports.
BeIN hits out at scaremongering and insists it’s ‘business as usual’ despite Saudi blockade
BeIN Media Group, the Qatari broadcaster, has hit out angrily at media reports suggesting beIN Sports channels are being blacked out in the Middle East and North Africa as a consequence of the Saudi Arabia-led economic blockade of Qatar. Frank Dunne and Robin Jellis report.