OREANDA-NEWS. We are once again together with the Williams team in Formula 1. CEO Graca Foster and deputy team head and commercial director of Williams, Claire Williams, have signed the new technological partnership agreement on Tuesday (Feb. 18), in Rio. We have had a history of technological collaboration with Williams since 1998, when the team started using our fuel. The partnership lasted 11 years. Between 2009 and 2013, we continued connected to the category by sponsoring the Brazilian Petrobras F1 Grand Prix and race broadcasts on Globo TV.

Under the new contract with Williams, the technical collaboration will continue and the two parties will work together with Mercedes to develop new motor vehicle fuels and lubricants for use by the team from the 2015 season. With the new rules for engines going into force, which requires teams to use more efficient fuels, our experience will ensure Williams is well positioned to meet the demands for increased energy efficiency in the competition. This year, Williams will be represented by Brazilian driver Felipe Massa and by Finn Valtteri Bottas.

In addition to the technological aspect, Formula 1 also represents an opportunity to bring more global visibility to our brand and showcase the quality of our products and technology. Our logo will be displayed on the side of the Williams FW36 chassis, around the team's environment and on its clothing. Since 2009, we have sponsored and named the Brazilian Petrobras F1 Grand Prix.

CEO Graca celebrated our return to a Formula 1 team: “We are very pleased to return to the main motor vehicle competition in the world. Over the 11 years during which Williams was on our side, we made significant progress in product development, such as the Podium gasoline. Participating in this competition is a huge challenge, because it forces us to be increasingly prepared for the highest standards of quality and efficiency that the category requires. We are very excited to begin with this challenge.”

Frank Williams, founder and director of the Williams team, also spoke about the new contract. “Petrobras and Williams have had a successful partnership in the past, and we are all looking forward to coming back together again in 2014. They are very competent in technology, and this will be important for the team since the new regulations have made fuel efficiency even more important. They are also a very ambitious global company, and we look forward to working together to promote their marketing goals.”

Petrobras' Motor Sports Program

The Petrobras Motor Sports Program was created to develop and test our products under extreme conditions in order to benefit consumers. Since 1996, we have been the sole supplier of fuel and lubricants to Formula Truck, and have sponsored the Petrobras Kart Selective since 1999. We also sponsor the Baja SAE competition, which encourages the appearance of new Brazilian professionals in the automotive technology field, and Formula SAE, already traditional in the university segment, consists in designing and building a competition vehicle using engines of up to 610 cc.

In April 2012, we joined Mitsubishi Motors Brazil and, since then, have sponsored the Mitsubishi Petrobras team, which takes part in some of the major rally events in the world. We also support the 1000 Moto GP Championship, which aims to train, evolve and professionalize riders and develop lubricants for the motorcycle segment, and we are the official supplier of fuel and lubricants to the Petrobras Make Cup, which brings back competition among the various models of different makes.