Sports news this month includes BMW pulling out of Formula One and Castrol's ambitious plans for the FIFA World Cup.
 Image: Azmil77 |
In Formula One, BMW have announced that they will be withdrawing from the F1 Championship at the end of the season. The German manufacturer re-entered the sport in 2000 and have, for the last three years, jointly run the BMW Sauber team with limited success in the sport. BMW engines have recorded 20 wins since they first became involved in F1 in 1952; the most recent being Poland's Robert Kubica at the Montreal Grand Prix last year.
The announcement appeared to have been made at short notice and at corporate level, with BMW bosses stating their intention to focus on "new drive technologies" and sustainability projects.
 Artist's impression of EDM's F1 engine exhibit |
The museum at Germany's famous Nurburgring Circuit is set to take delivery of the world's largest Formula One engine. The exhibit, built by British company EDM, will allow visitors to physically walk through the engine to gain a better understanding of F1 technology.
In football, the news of Castrol's official sponsorship of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups will spark an ambitious business to business marketing campaign by the lubricant manufacturer Offshore division. Using their current "more than just oil" theme, Castrol will target the aviation, industrial, marine and energy sectors to support their link with the event. The deal covers the next two World Cup tournaments in South Africa and Brazil. Castrol will call on Real Madrid's Christiano Ronaldo, Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger and former French International Marcel Desailly as brand ambassadors.