Intel to sponsor BMW's Sauber Formula 1 team

Intel to sponsor BMW's Sauber Formula 1 team
NEW YORK: Chipmaker Intel Corporation is sponsoring BMW's Sauber Formula One racing team, the company announced Wednesday. While it declined to quote the amount, it is a known fact among racing enthusiasts that a title sponsorship for the event is worth $8 million year for a low-ranking team to as much as $70 million for the best of cars.

Intel's rival in the chip making industry, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., sponsors a Ferrari car. Its Scuderia team was placed third this season, ending a run of six consecutive titles with Michael Schumacher as the driver.

The deal, described as "long-term strategic technology partnership", incorporates provision for the German automobile giant to buy computers using only Intel processors. The Intel logo will be displayed on the car used by BMW's Sauber team starting January 2006. Nearly 150 million people are estimated to watch each of Formula One's 19 races. BMW bought the Sauber team in June this year.

Besides providing technology support for the race team, Intel will work with BMW in the next couple of years to develop methods to integrate consumer devices in BMW cars.
In addition, Intel will also standardize BMW's technology infrastructure at its worldwide data centers and migrate employees to Intel-based systems.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said the company is delighted that a strong partner such as Intel has agreed to collaborate with it.