Vodacom reaffirms commitment to South African Motorsport

Telecommunications giant Vodacom has reaffirmed its commitment to South African motorsport for another two years.

Vodacom, the official sponsor of South African motorsport for the last five years, has extended its sponsorship agreement with ruling body Motorsport South Africa until the end of 2004. The sponsorship agreement covers a wide range of motorsport activity and includes:

* Support for various in the form naming rights to various categories

* Support for Vodacom national championship categories

* Continued support of the Vodacom Power Tour

* Continued support for the Vodacom Sports Car and Vodacom Isondo Sports 2000 categories

* Continued support for the Vodacom Motorsport SA development programme

The agreement between Vodacom and Motorsport SA will also see Vodacom support MSA marketing initiatives in respect of the MSA website, the issuing of MSA news bulletins and joint motorsport exhibitions, promotions and motor shows. Vodacom will also continue to provide financial backing for television coverage of South African and selected international motorsport events.

"We are delighted to be able to continue our association with Motorsport South Africa and the motorsport fraternity in this country," said Vodacom managing director Pieter Uys."The agreement with MSA is wide ranging, but also includes support for race circuits throughout the country via track advertising packages and hospitality facilities.

"Over the last five years we have been very happy with our return on investment in motorsport in this country. This has made it possible for us to throw our weight behind South African motorsport for a further two years, and it was particularly gratifying to learn that 96 percent of MSA license holders are Vodacom subscribers."

MSA managing director Beaulah Schoeman said she was"over the moon" with the Vodacom decision."It is a gesture that safeguards the future of motorsport in this country for the foreseeable future, and one cannot over emphasise the value of Vodacom's contribution over the last five years," she said.

"Of particular importance is Vodacom's continued commitment to the Vodacom MSA development programme. This is where the future of our motorsport lies, and both the Ministry of Sport and the South African Sports Commission are happy with the progress made in this area."

Mrs Schoeman added, however, that the development programme needed to be expanded. On this score MSA had a number of plans on the table, and the Vodacom sponsorship would enable further progress to be made.

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