09 December 2019

W Series signs first major sponsor agreeing three-year deal with F1 Williams' sponsor ROKiT

The W series has signed its first major sponsor, agreeing a three-year deal with Global telecommunications company ROKiT.

The all-female racing championship, which was won by Britain's Jamie Chadwick in its inaugural season in 2018/19, will see an image change as branding will be displayed on all 20 cars and drivers' overalls.

The financial value has not been announced but is believed to be in the rregion of £10m.

ROKiT CEO Catherine Bond Muir, who launched the W series in 2018, said: "As a high-tech, disruptive, customer-focused brand, ROKiT sits comfortably alongside W Series and its mission to change the face of motorsport and we're delighted that we'll be racing together in the coming years. 

"It's also exciting to see a brand that's already present in Formula 1, Formula E and other well-established race series, recognising and supporting opportunities for women in sport, and taking immediate action," she added.

In an eventful weekend for Bond Muir and the W Series, they picked up the Pioneering and Innovation Award at last night's Autosport Awards.

"We've had a good first year and really looking forward to the second. We've had a great announcement with ROKiT today," she said.

"This is about teams, not me at all. Thank you to the amazing team back in the Victoria head office, they are absolutely brilliant.

"We think we've done well this year to put more women on the map.

"We want our drivers to go on and do a lot more major racing against the guys and start beating the boys. We expect that to happen in the next few years," she said.

The W Series has announced an expansion to 20 drivers for the 2020 season and a provisional six-race calendar, which is expected to be added to in the near future.

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