BAR Honda to sign Intel as title sponsor?

By Phil Huff
August 4 2005

BAR Honda are set to sign a title sponsorship deal with computer chip manufacturer Intel, according to information given to BAR-Talk.com.

BAR Honda's new business director, Andy Couper, has pitched the team to Intel in a bid to snatch the deal away from McLaren, who were also chasing the sponsor.

Eric Kim, Intel's global vice president of sales and marketing, was presented with a strong sell by Couper, with the secret weapon of a virtually blank canvas, as opposed to McLaren's Mobil 1, Johnnie Walker and Mercedes liveried car.

British American Tobacco's marketing director Jimmi Rembizewski has confirmed that, in order to help facilitate the deal, the Lucky Strike brand could be removed from the car a year early, allowing any potential sponsor to have the most valuable real estate immediately, with the exception of a Honda logo on the rear of the rear wing.

A source close to the deal has been quoted as saying "Make no mistake, BAR Honda is a serious contender for this deal."

Intel currently have a small sponsorship deal with Toyota, appearing on the rear wing endplate of the TF105, but are keen to increase their exposure. Due to agreements with Panasonic and Denso, and Toyota themselves, remaining with Toyota is not considered an option.

McLaren are understood to be out of the running, preparing to announce a new title sponsor shortly.