Autoblog

A quick look at any racing car tells you that association with motorsports is a precious commodity for any number of companies, especially for watchmakers. A growing number of horologers are paying top dollar to link their names with the image that motor racing projects. All the more so with high-profile vintage racing events, which add a measure of heritage to the formula.

Like Chopard, which famously sponsors the annual Mille Miglia revival race, Swiss watchmakers Blancpain recently sponsored the 2007 edition of the famous Peking to Paris classic rally, the same event after which Spyker named their Super Sport Utility Vehicle concept. This year's running started on May 27 in China, passing along the Great Wall, through Mongolia, the Steppes of Asia, the Gobi Desert, Siberia, Moscow, St Petersburg, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany before finishing in Paris on June 30.

As official timekeepers of the Peking to Paris rally, Blancpain produced two limited editions of 130 special fly-back chronographs, one with red accents and the other with yellow, the two official colors of the rally.

Blancpain (which ironically means "white bread") was founded way back in 1735, and is today run by the son of Swatch's chairman as part of the Swatch Group. The company is known for producing some of the most elaborate movements, for their deep-sea diving watches used by the US Navy and by Jacques Cousteau, and as the world's oldest watchmaker.

[Source: Blancpain and TimeZone]

"This citation has ben brought to you by _________, for all your _________ needs. Thanks for using the Toledo PD, please drive safely and have a nice day."

The Toledo, Ohio police department needs to replace about 100 of its 140-car fleet at a time when money's tight. When budget deficits are forecast, getting funds can be a challenge, and that's what led the Toldeo department to offer cruiser sponsorships. In exchange for $15,000, the cars will have a 3 by 1 foot ad placed on the rear quarter panels. Four businesses have signed on so far, which means that two cars have been paid for. Toledo PD Chief Mike Navarre has received more negative feedback than good comments, but the bottom line is that it's going to offset the considerable annual cost of replacing all those cars. The influx of cash means the fleet gets replenished sooner while still leaving money for the many other things a police department needs. Innovative thinking in tough times is a consistent theme in America, and Toledo's not the first department to put ads on their cars. The Fire Department is keeping an eye on how the sponsorships unfold, and could roll out its own effort. We don't see what the big deal is; it's saving taxpayers money in the end. It's not like they've sold naming rights to the department or anything, so keep an eye out for new Chargers with a cop motor, a HEMI plant, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, and an ad for Bambino's Pizza where 9-1-1 used to be.

[Source: Toledo Blade via Kicking Tires]

In 2005, it was Honda. GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler shared the honors in 2006 to celebrate the history of American Muscle. This year, the 41st annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas has named Toyota the "Official Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show". It's an honor that has more to do with branding the Las Vegas Convention Center with your logo than anything else, and this year, Toyota's logo will be the most prevalent to show goers.

Spurred by the success of Scion in the aftermarket customization industry, Toyota attempted last year to introduce the Tundra to the same audience that installs brush gaurds on their F-150s and bed liners in their Silverado. This year, Lexus will also be in tow and enjoy its first official presence at the SEMA Show.

As always, the SEMA Show occurs in late October/early November (10/30 to 11/2) and we'll be on hand with a small army to cover all the auto stuff Las Vegas has to offer.

[Source: Toyota]

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Under its new ownership, Aston Martin continues to forge ahead into a brighter independent future. In addition to the production announcement of the Rapide and the rumors of an upcoming "DBX", Aston is not missing a beat on its racing agenda, which should come as no surprise considering the background of its new chairman, David Richards.

To headline its Le Mans endurance racing program, Richards has brought in a big-name former F1 driver. Johnny Herbert, who in his eleven-year Formula One career drove for the likes of Benetton, Lotus, Sauber and Jaguar, will be driving the Aston Martin DBR9 for the Prodrive-run team at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Herbert is no stranger to endurance racing, having won the race for Mazda in 1991 and having driven the dominating MC12 for the Maserati factory team and Audis for customer teams, before briefly returning to the F1 paddock as Jordan/Midland's sporting relations manager. Richards withdrew Aston from the American Le Mans Series for this season, so they'll only be competing in the title race at Le Mans, leaving Herbert with enough time to consider other possibilities, including the Grand Prix Masters. (Aston also announced a new sponsorship deal with luxury hotel chain InterContinental.)

Recruiting Herbert, however, is about as close as Aston Martin will be getting to Formula One anytime soon. David Richards quelled any speculation that the Aston Martin name would be linked to his upcoming re-entry into F1 with Prodrive. Likely taking a page from former corporate cousin Jaguar's unfortunate experience in F1, Richards has wisely decided to leave Aston out of his grand prix venture rather than risk dragging its valuable name through the mud.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Dutch financial giant ING is investing heavily in F1 to promote its banking services with the same fast-paced, cutting-edge, dynamic image sought after by every F1 sponsor. However, unlike other companies that start small, ING aims to make a splash that no spectator could miss. There are a number of ways companies can get their name into grand prix racing, and it seems ING has checked all the boxes.

For starters, ING will be the new title sponsor of the reigning world champs Renault, replacing outgoing tobacco company Mild Seven as the French team's principal patron for the next three seasons (at least). That title sponsorship cost Japan Tobacco $60 million for 2006, a sum which was likely exceeded in ING's deal given Renault's back-to-back world titles.

Not enough? ING will also be the title sponsor at the Australian Grand Prix next season, replacing Foster's beer for the next three years. As with the Renault sponsorship, the Melbourne deal will put the bank's moniker in the name of the race: 2007 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. ING was also rumored to be assuming title sponsorship of the Belgian Grand Prix – the closest race to its home base – to the same effect as its Australian sponsorship, but ING has dismissed this as pure speculation.

Still not enough? The Dutch bankers have also confirmed that they'll be advertising track-side at no less than twelve grands prix next season, including Australia and Belgium plus Malaysia, Spain, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, China and Japan. That means we'll be seeing the world's top drivers whizzing by the ING lion at more races next year than not.

Now there's corporate presence you can take to the bank.

[Sources: GrandPrix.com and F1i.com]

Michael Schumacher is the highest-paid figure in sports, and next year he'll be the highest-paid figure not in sports. Emerging reports speculate on how much the 7-time (maybe 8-time) world champion will be earning in retirement, and if the staggering figures are right, he'll still be making more than any of the drivers remaining in F1, including his successor Kimi Raikkonen, current defending champ Fernando Alonso and his own brother Ralf.

Schumacher's manager Wili Weber is already lining up the sponsorship deals, declaring his goal to turn the driver into an "advertising emperor" after the end of the season in October. Personal sponsors Shell, Omega and Deutsche Vermogensberatung (DVAG – the logo on his hat), have reportedly already renewed their contracts, and with more time on his hands, the living legend is likely to find more sponsors who'd be keen to latch on to the Schumacher image...for big bucks.

Schumacher's net worth is estimated at around $800 million; enough to personally finance the 29% stake in Ferrari parent company Fiat is repurchasing.

And those guys on the welfare line thought it pays not to work!

[Source: F1i.com]

Nearly as fast as bidders came out of the woodwork for Aston Martin's possible sale, CBS secured new sponsorship for its hit reality-show "Survivor" after General Motors canceled its advertising. States Chris Ender of CBS, "The upcoming edition of `Survivor' has a full roster of advertisers across a wide range of categories and GM's position has been filled."

CBS would not state who was the new sponsor or if it was even another automaker. Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., and all three American brands of DaimlerChrysler declined advertising on the show. Representatives from Honda Motor Co. stated the automaker does not comment on its advertising.

Related:

• The show must go on: GM cancels advertising on Survivor

[Source: Associated Press via Fox News]