Motorsport
Features
Covid-19 drives F1 to a crossroads
The future of Formula 1 is an uncertain one, as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaks havoc on its schedule. Christian Sylt looks at the options for the motorsport.
Nascar moves quickly to fill void from Covid-19 with nationally-televised esports series
Esports has never been as important or relevant as it is now amid the global Covid-19 pandemic. Nascar has been an early mover in this space with the creation of the eNascar iRacing Pro Invitational Series.
Georgiou targeting further growth for Eurosport Events after announcing UCI tie-up
Eurosport Events' partnership with the UCI is its first outside of motorsports. Andrew Georgiou, Eurosport president, tells Adam Nelson about his plans to extend the reach of the broadcaster's events promotion arm even further.
Formula 1 could have up to seven different regional betting sponsors, says ISG
Digital advertising technology could allow Formula 1 to have up to seven different regional betting sponsors, according to the sport’s global data and betting rights partner Interregional Sports Group.
How oil giant Shell is using Nissan’s Formula E team to reposition itself for the energy future
Kevin McCullagh looks at oil company Shell's entrance into the realm of electric motor racing and how it is marketing its diversification into electric vehicle charging and other ‘new energy’ products.
Indy 500 shifted to August due to Covid-19
Motorsports schedule shifts also create combined IndyCar-Nascar weekend in July
IMG and World RX join motorsport’s drive to esports
The World Rallycross Championship (World RX) has become the latest motorsport championship to introduce an esports series to compensate for the lack of events during Covid-19
Eurosport Events moves into esports with virtual WTCR pre-season series
The Discovery-owned Eurosport Events has reached an agreement with esports promoter RaceRoom to produce a pre-season virtual racing series for its forthcoming Esports WTCR series
Fox Sports to broadcast remainder of Nascar’s new esports series
Fox Sports has reached an agreement with Nascar to broadcast the remainder of the US stock car racing series's new esports competition, the eNascar iRacing Pro Invitational Series
Agag’s political skills make way for Reigle’s audience acumen as Formula E tries to build on first ever profit
Former Manchester United executive Jamie Reigle replaced Alejandro Agag as the chief executive of Formula E this September with the Spaniard becoming the chairman of the electric racing series. The pair tell SportBusiness about their plans for the motorsport in their first joint interview since the leadership restructure.
Vietnam makes $475m bet to join Singapore on F1’s Southeast Asia lineup
The organisers of the upcoming Vietnam Grand Prix will spend $475m to join the F1 lineup in Southeast Asia, according to research by Formula Money. SportBusiness takes a closer look at the economics.
Formula E closing the gap on Formula 1 as a sponsorship proposition
Sponsorship deal values in Formula E are catching up with Formula One according to Robin Fenwick, founder of specialist motorsport agency Right Formula. Matthew Glendinning reports.
McLaren’s new commercial chief Mark Waller is bringing lessons from American sport
Mark Waller joined McLaren Racing in May from the NFL, becoming the British motorsport team's managing director of sales and marketing. He's relishing his new role, and sees opportunities to drive the business forward in adding consumer-facing sponsors, creating more digital content, and expanding the team's already impressive esports programme.
In era of racing sponsor retreats, Chevrolet doubles down on activation
The North American auto industry’s increasing gravitation toward crossover sport utility vehicles, trucks, and electric vehicles has lessened the natural link between the “stock car” element of auto racing, making the sport now a more fertile sponsorship area for brands in other product sectors.
Virtual advertising technology unlocks split sponsorship inventory and multi-lingual graphics for Formula One
Formula One is likely to implement virtual advertising more widely in its global broadcast feed following its sponsorship and data rights partnership with ISG. But the sport needs to be careful not to fall foul of broadcast regulations concerning product placement. Ben Cronin reports
Nascar searching for new ways to return to relevance after decade of decline
Organisers admit they 'lost their way' by alienating core fanbase
TV ratings and attendances down significantly, while many sponsors have left
James Barclay, Jaguar Racing | “Formula E is the perfect platform to tell the world about our electrification expertise”
Ahead of the fourth round of the Formula E season in Mexico, James Barclay, team director, Jaguar Racing, gave a manufacturer’s take on why the electric motor racing series is proving so appealing to car brands and non-endemic sponsors.
Liberty demonstrates its Asian ambitions with Hanoi Grand Prix announcement
Hanoi will host a Grand Prix in 2020 after first expressing interest in 2016
‘Mission-driven’ all-female W Series hopes to attract free-to-air coverage and purpose-beyond-profit sponsorship
Event promises to provide a platform for female drivers to succeed in F1
Series will underwrite costs of all the drivers
Formula One enlists biometric testing to better understand its TV audience
Formula One is working with market research group Populus on biometric studies of the live TV audience during grand prix coverage. Jonathan Dyson reports on how the work is being carried out and how the results are being used.
IMG confident Circuit of Americas investment will help World Rallycross to go global
Agency funds 'multi-million pound' circuit at Austin facility to bring series to United States
New potential sponsors already in discussions to partner with World RX following move
Audience research drives F1 to brings fans closer with city-based festivals
Formula One’s director of marketing and communications Ellie Norman tells Ben Cronin why the sport’s series of city-based Fan Festivals aim to make it more accessible to audiences and promote it beyond the confines of a Grand Prix weekend.
US Digest | Woods-Mickelson showdown set for Thanksgiving weekend
Welcome to the US Digest, rounding up the big news and developments coming out of the world’s biggest sports market
Woods-Mickelson showdown set for Thanksgiving weekend
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US sports tweak rules and presentation to keep audiences hooked
US major leagues are tweaking their rules to make sure fans stay tuned in as concerns build about distracted audiences. Data is playing a critical role, with leading rights-holders employing sophisticated, data-led decision-making to make the changes.
US Digest | FIFA World Cup ratings recovering from rough start
In this week's US sports industry round-up: FIFA World Cup ratings recovering from rough start | Rhode Island legalizes sports gaming | NASCAR looking at changing sponsorship model
China Digest | LPGA confirms replacement for failed Alisports tournament
In this week's China sports industry round-up: LPGA confirms replacement for failed Alisports tournament; SAIC Motor strikes Chinese Super League deal; and Vivo lays out World Cup activations
SportBusiness International May 2018
In this month's issue we cover the following:
GDPR – How rights holders are preparing for the new data privacy regulations
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From exposure to engagement | F1 uses new tool to price its sponsorship assets
Formula 1 is using a new proprietary tool to provide a more holistic valuation of its sponsorship assets. Ben Cronin speaks to the sport's head of global sponsorship and commercial partnerships Murray Barnett and developer Rob Mills about how it works.