Virgin Racing sporting director Graeme Lowdon insists Sir Richard Branson will remain a key presence in the team.
Sir Richard Branson will continue to stay close to team
Virgin Racing sporting director Graeme Lowdon insists Sir Richard Branson will remain a key presence in the team despite the recently-announced name change.
Virgin will officially be known as Marussia F1 Team in 2012 to reflect the fact that the Russian sportscar manufacturer are their primary financial backers.
Although the Virgin logo will remain prominently on the cars, the name of one of the most famous brands in the world will no longer preside over the Dinnington-based marque.
Lowdon, however, says that Virgin and Branson will continue to play an active role.
"With any significant change like the one we have made, we would always approach all our partners because it affects them in terms of strategy and their own branding," said Lowdon.
"What all of our partners want to see is a framework that allows us to move forward on the grid. Fundamentally, that is what is behind this further alignment with Marussia.
"The fact Virgin, and Richard in particular, are staying close to the team moving forward provides comfort to our sponsors.
"They specifically joined us because they wanted to get closer to the Virgin group of companies and have access to that, or because they wanted to align their brand with Virgin, or even have access to Richard.
Brand
"From that point of view nothing has changed as we have confirmed to them the Virgin name will still be on the car, and Richard will still come to races.
"The access remains to the Virgin companies, which has put a tick in the box for all the sponsors.
"Of course, it would have been a different proposition altogether if Virgin had joined another team, or pulled out of Formula One.
"But the name will again be pretty prominent on the car given we have a multi-year arrangement."
Lowdon also maintains that Branson's personal role will also not change.
"I think he identifies with a lot of the challenges we have had, that we're quite an entrepreneurial team, and we were a start-up business. We're in the realm of areas that interest him," added Lowdon.
"Secondly he has been valuable to us in creating an environment where sponsors who want to be close to the Virgin brand have a natural fit, a natural home.
"He actively helps our sponsors in whatever they are looking for, so that won't change at all under this new arrangement."
