"Johnnie Walker" McLaren Mercedes
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2002 C230 K
"Johnnie Walker" McLaren Mercedes
Interesting news item:
McLaren and Johnnie Walker
There are reports that McLaren has concluded a major new sponsorship deal with the distillery firm Diageo. The company has been talking to Formula 1 teams since last summer and recently announced plans to enter the NASCAR Nextel Cup with the championship-winning Roush Racing. Now it seems a deal has been agreed to see the company's Johnnie Walker brand replacing West as the team's title sponsor when the current sponsorship ends in the summer. It is not clear when the sponsrshp would begin but it is known that the West deal ends on July 31 2005, in line with Britain's restrictive new anti-tobacco laws. It is possible that Johnnie Walker might appear before then but that will depend on whether West's owner Imperial Tobacco is happy to leave earlier than planned. The deal is said to be worth around $68m. According to the reports the deal has been pushed hard by Diageo management under chief executive Paul Walsh, who was run the company for the last four years.
There are reports that McLaren has concluded a major new sponsorship deal with the distillery firm Diageo. The company has been talking to Formula 1 teams since last summer and recently announced plans to enter the NASCAR Nextel Cup with the championship-winning Roush Racing. Now it seems a deal has been agreed to see the company's Johnnie Walker brand replacing West as the team's title sponsor when the current sponsorship ends in the summer. It is not clear when the sponsrshp would begin but it is known that the West deal ends on July 31 2005, in line with Britain's restrictive new anti-tobacco laws. It is possible that Johnnie Walker might appear before then but that will depend on whether West's owner Imperial Tobacco is happy to leave earlier than planned. The deal is said to be worth around $68m. According to the reports the deal has been pushed hard by Diageo management under chief executive Paul Walsh, who was run the company for the last four years.
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Originally Posted by MadC32
jup.. seen that one.. wonder what the new cars will looks like..
When McLaren began the West sponsorship Ron Dennis set what the cars would look like from then on (the current black/grey scheme - Dennis' favorite colors), the sponsors only get to add their logos to this scheme. After the Marlboro era, I think Dennis wanted the McLaren to be its own brand and not look exactly like the sponsors product - similar to how the Ferrari can always be identified as such, no matter who is the primary sponsor. People just assumed the new colors in 1997 were from West as the new "branding image" change occured at that time. West's brand colors are actually red, white and gold, so the overall livery had little to do with them (there had been West sponsored F1 cars in the past which did have primarily red/white paint schemes).
However, since each new sponsorship deal is different, there is a chance the McLarens' could look radically different - it just depends on how much they stick to what they originally set as their "brand image."
Last edited by trench; Dec 28, 2004 at 04:27 PM.
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Originally Posted by Chappy
Perhaps they'll run different colored cars....one each for:
Johnny Walker Blue Label
Johnny Walker Gold Label
Johnny Walker Green Label
Johnny Walker Blue Label
Johnny Walker Gold Label
Johnny Walker Green Label
Actually, if they advertise the Black Label there really isn't any reason to change the overall look of the McLarens.
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Originally Posted by Chappy
I left out the cheap stuff :p
I only drink single malts. Mmmm...
I actually have a friend who works for Diageo (for the Guiness arm of the company), I'm hoping she can score me some cool Johhny Walker McLaren swag.
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Originally Posted by trench
I have no idea of how the various JW's are priced.
I only drink single malts. Mmmm...
I actually have a friend who works for Diageo (for the Guiness arm of the company), I'm hoping she can score me some cool Johhny Walker McLaren swag.
I only drink single malts. Mmmm...
I actually have a friend who works for Diageo (for the Guiness arm of the company), I'm hoping she can score me some cool Johhny Walker McLaren swag.
I've only ever purchased two bottles of "Blue", as gifts. Fortunately, the receivers opened the bottle immediately and offered me a pinch. 
FWIW, at the right duty-free shop, you can find "Blue" for around $130.
Personally, I like bourbon, rocks, splash of water...Makers Mark to be exact!
