DENSO Announces 2005 Motor Sport Sponsorships
TOKYO, Feb. 24, 2005 -- DENSO Corporation today announced its motor sports sponsorship plan for the 2005 season. DENSO has been sponsoring motor sports since 1971.
This year, DENSO is adding to the products supplied to motor sports teams, with a new compact alternator for Panasonic Toyota Racing in Formula 1 and spark plugs to the Subaru World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship.
"DENSO is excited to sponsor these motor sports teams, and we hope to improve our name recognition and corporate image through our involvement with motor sports around the world," said Hiroshi Uchiyama, senior managing director, Sales and Marketing. "It also is a good opportunity to showcase our technology to our many customers who support the motor sports community."
DENSO's sponsorships include: Four-Wheel Races -- Formula 1 (F1)
DENSO will continue to support Panasonic Toyota Racing as a corporate sponsor for the second consecutive season. Also, new alternators developed by DENSO will be installed in the TF105, in addition to the DENSO spark plugs, radiators, and oil coolers that have been installed since the entry of Panasonic Toyota Racing to F1 in 2002.
*See team information at http://www.densocorp-na.com/ under Media Center -- World Rally Championship (WRC)
DENSO will continue to support the Subaru World Rally Team as a corporate sponsor for the second consecutive season. Also, spark plugs developed for the WRC car will be installed in the SUBARU IMPREZA WRC 2005.
*See team information at http://www.densocorp-na.com/ under Media Center -- Super GT (tentative name)
DENSO will support TOYOTA TEAM SARD as the main sponsor in the Super GT, previously named "All Japan GT Championship." The DENSO SARD SUPRA GT will be entered in the GT 500 class. DENSO-made engine management systems, spark plugs, radiators, oil coolers, displays and other components will be installed in the DENSO SARD SUPRA GT.
*See team information at http://www.densocorp-na.com/ under Media Center -- All Japan Formula 3 Championship (F3)
DENSO will support the Le Beausset Motor Sport as the main sponsor starting in 2005.
*See team information at http://www.densocorp-na.com/ under Media Center
-- National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA) DENSO Iridium Power Ford Drag Racing Series
DENSO will be the title sponsor for the second year and will support drivers Larry Geddes, Robin Lawrence and Justin Burcham.
-- Pro Drag Racing Series
DENSO will be the title sponsor of the Pro Street Class for the third consecutive year.
-- National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA)
DENSO will sponsor Jojo Callos, the 2003 NDRA Pro 4 Cylinder Points Champion and 2001 NHRA Hot Rod Champion.
Two-Wheel Races
DENSO will continue to supply Iridium Power spark plugs, the world's first spark plug that uses a 0.4-mm iridium alloy center electrode, to various Motocross and World Two-wheel Championship riders.
-- FIM Road Racing World Championship (WGP)
DENSO will support new-comers Tomoyoshi Koyama and Toshinaga Kuzuhara in the 125cc class. DENSO also will continue to sponsor Team LCR (owned by former GP rider Lucio Cecchinello).
*See team information at http://www.densocorp-na.com/ under Media Center -- All Japan Road Race Championship
DENSO will continue its sponsorship of Atsushi Watanabe (JSB1000) and Hiroyuki Kikuchi (GP125).
-- Others
DENSO will continue supporting Hisashi Tajima in the All Japan Motorcross Championship and Keiji Nakamura in the All Japan Drag Race Championship.
DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global supplier of advanced technology, systems and components. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company employs 95,000 people in 31 countries and regions, including Japan. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 totaled US$24.2 billion. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to http://www.globaldenso.com/ .
In the Americas, DENSO employs 14,000 people at 33 companies with consolidated sales for the above fiscal year totaling US$5.3 billion.
Established in 1971 as the first overseas affiliate of the DENSO Corporation, DENSO Sales California, Inc. is an automotive components sales and distribution company that employs 229 people in Long Beach, California. Sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 totaled US$561 million. The company's product lines include original equipment, aftermarket and re- manufactured automotive parts, heavy-duty diesel and electrical components, portable commercial air-conditioning units and industrial robots.