Exclusive: BAR sign up Epson as Team Partner

By Phil Huff (30/09/2004)
October 5 2004

Lucky Strike BAR Honda have signed up another new sponsor in time for the Japanese Grand Prix, showing renewed confidence in the team following the 'Buttongate' saga.

Epson, best known for their range of printers, has entered into an agreement that will see the Japanese company's logo appear on the side of the BAR006 in Japan and Brazil, and then throughout the 2005 season.



The deal is said to be worth some $5 million, and includes extra coverage on the drivers helmets, as well as partnership deals on new technologies at a retail level.

The Seiko Epson Corporation, to give them their full title, were founded in 1942 although the Epson brand didn't appear until 1975. Based in Nagano, Japan, the company have been involved in Formula One previously, most recently as a sponsor to Tyrrell in 1997.

Ironically, BAR purchased Tyrrell at the end of 1997 in order to guarantee a slot in Formula One. Soon after a significant number of Tyrrell engineers left to join the new Honda Racing Developments team (who maintain BAR's current engines) and at the end of the year Tyrrell closed its doors and BAR was born.

BAR will officially announce the new deal next week, in the run up to the Japanese Grand Prix.

Update (05/10/2004): Our original story says the sponsorship will run through next year. However, BAR's press release says that the deal covers just the Japanese Grand Prix. We've checked back with our sources, and their still maintaining the deal will run on until the end of 2005. We'll keep you informed.