Manor: Virgin link is just speculation

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Monday 6th July 2009

Manor Grand Prix chief John Booth has downplayed reports that his team will be sponsored by the Virgin Group during their debut season next year.

According to reports in the British media, Virgin boss Richard Branson is set to drop Championship leaders Brawn GP at the end of this season, citing the rising cost of sponsorship as the reason.

But Branson won't be leaving F1 as rumours have linked Virgin to a less costly deal with Manor Grand Prix.

Booth, however, has downplayed the reports.

"The Virgin link is just speculation and I couldn't really comment on it for legal reasons, and it is unhelpful to speculate about Virgin," he told the Yorkshire Post.

Your Comments

ozi_owl

"Hey guys, they're not sponsoring Ferrari. It's a British team. Chill!"

Bisley

"Well, he got it cheap, at first. As Brawn suceeds, the price is gonna go up, duh."

BRG_JT

"Branson is an expert at getting some cheap publicity. If Brawn got off poorly, I'd doubt the bearded one would have hung around. They've not really put any serious cash on the table and don't seem to be that serious. Sticking with Brawn would do any decent sponsor a world of good. Brawn is a proven winner, but Manor is hardly been a household name in F1.

It is rare to see Virgin lay some serious cash anywhere. If you want the Virgin brand you pay to use it. Virgin owns very little of any enterprise that uses the brand. Even Virgin Atlantic is now half owned by Singapore Airlines. The Virgin brand still sells, but at the end of the day, do you really want an aging hippy fronting your corporate parties?"

mowerman

"No matter how much we the fans[since 1960 personly] wail ,pontificate or rant ,the people with mega money will do what they please with f1 untill they find a new toy to play with!"

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