Ferrari F1 Junior Bearman Moves One Step Closer To F1

November 29, 2022
Driver Management, FIA F2, FIA F3, Formula One, Ollie Bearman, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman will step up to Formula 2 next season with Prema.

It will be the Briton’s second year with the team, having joined the Italian outfit for the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship which he came third in with one race win.

He moved up to F3 straight from Formula 4, having won the 2021 ADAC and Italian championships in the entry-level category.

“I’m really excited to continue another year with the Prema family, this time in F2,” said Bearman.

“I’m really happy with how my first season went in F3. It was a really nice introduction and I felt like the team coached me throughout the year really well.

“I will continue to work hard over the winter with the Ferrari Driver Academy, in order to be fully prepared for 2023. It will be a tough challenge, but everyone works so hard and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’m already really excited for the test in Abu Dhabi and for the first round of 2023 in Bahrain.”

Prema team principal Rene Rosin commented: “We were amazed by how quickly and successfully Ollie transitioned from F4 to F3 racing.

“He is a really talented driver, and while he will be making his first steps in the FIA F2 championship, we are confident he will improve race by race with the support of our team and the Ferrari Driver Academy as well.

“It won’t be easy, because the step from F3 to F2 is considerable, but we are confident in his potential for the season ahead.”

Castore appointed Official Technical & Retail Partner of Harlequins

July 5, 2022
Sponsorship, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Castore and Harlequins are delighted to begin their Technical and Retail partnership ahead of the 2022/23 season.

With the new Men’s and Women’s Home playing kits and Travel & Training Wear ranges set to be revealed in the coming weeks, Harlequins and Castore are delighted to announce their new, multi-year partnership.

Seeing unparalleled growth since their inception in 2015, Castore will supply all training and playing wear for the Club, covering the Men’s, Women’s and Youth teams, as well as take over the running of Harlequins’ retail operations at The Stoop.

Castore’s partnership portfolio boasts an impressive lineup from England Cricket, Rangers FC, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sevilla FC, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, McLaren F1 and Auto, and athletes such as Matt Fitzpatrick, Sir Andy Murray and Adam Peaty.

Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Castore as the Club’s Official Technical & Retail partner.

“After eight very successful seasons partnering with adidas, we have undertaken an extremely thorough process of reviewing our Club Technical & Retail partner, talking to many of the leading global brands in this space. Castore were a clear standout as a best-in-class business that has seen huge growth since its founding in 2015. Their dual approach of supporting our retail operation as well as high-quality products for our players and supporters stood head and shoulders above their competition.

“One of the key requirements we identified for our new Technical & Retail partner was the ability to supply high-performance clothing for our playing groups, both Men & Women. Castore has a strong record of supplying high-quality women’s-fit clothing and we are excited to see Harlequins Women take to the field in Castore products next season.

“Over the last two years we have seen huge support and engagement for the Club within our loyal supporter base and we are looking forward to seeing this new partnership help to supply our supporters with the latest official Harlequins merchandise – we can’t wait to see their reaction to the new kit”.

Tom Beahon, Castore founder, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Harlequins. As a founding member of the RFU, Harlequins is a truly iconic brand within the world of rugby that is leading the way when it comes to growing the game.

“Harlequins’ annual Big Game, Big Summer Kick-Off and The Game Changer campaigns are sport-leading events within rugby union and perfectly embody Castore’s Better Never Stops ethos. We feel this partnership is an ideal fit for two premium brands that focus on innovation and quality.”

Castore and Harlequins are set to unveil their 2022/23 season kits in the coming weeks.

About Castore

Founded in Liverpool, England by former athletes and brothers Tom and Phil Beahon, Castore was created with a vision of becoming the number one premium sportswear brand in the world. Castore exists for one single reason – to make athletes better. Our ethos is built upon the philosophy of BETTER NEVER STOPS, an ideal deeply infused in our DNA and something we strive to live every single day. We utilise advanced engineering and unique technical fabrics to create the highest quality sportswear in the world for athletes who demand the very best. Designed with a passion for innovation with specialist features to help to optimise athletic performance in all conditions. For more information, please visit Castore.com

CopyBet confirmed as a new partner

July 4, 2022
Sponsorship, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

QPR can confirm that CopyBet has become the club’s official betting partner.

The agreement will see CopyBet’s branding feature on the back of the first team’s playing shirts.
CopyBet is a sportsbook that offers competitive odds and attractive deals for both pre-match and in-play betting with more than 18,000 events daily.

In addition, you’ll find exclusive enhanced prices around major football matches, including the Premier League, Championship and Champions League.

Meanwhile, all new R’s fans that sign up will receive a no deposit £5 free bet to place on any QPR match throughout the season.

CopyBet also allows you to copy bets from any Tipster on the platform and take advantage of their expert knowledge. Once you’ve found the Tipster you like, simply follow them, and the CopyBet platform will automatically copy their bets for you.
Tipsters are ranked based on their recent betting performance so that customers can make informed decisions on where to place their bets.

CopyBet operates under the UK Gambling Commission Licence and is also a member of the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS).

Anton Ivanov, CopyBet UK’s business development director, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Queens Park Rangers. As passionate football supporters we are extremely happy to be involved with such a historic English club. It is set to be an exciting season for CopyBet working with QPR.”

Euan Inglis, QPR’s commercial director, said: “We are excited about this new partnership with CopyBet. Their model is very different to others in the marketplace with their innovative use of Tipsters.

“Anton and the team at CopyBet have been a pleasure to deal with as we embark on this multi-year partnership, which will include a number of creative, collaborative initiatives.”

Castore and Charlton Athletic announce multi-year partnership

May 19, 2022
Sponsorship, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Charlton Athletic and premium sportswear brand, Castore are delighted to announce their new multi-year partnership. The partnership will see Castore become the club’s official kit and retail partner from the 2022/23 season.

The deal becomes one of the most valuable commercial partnerships in Charlton’s recent history and follows the news that RSK and the University of Greenwich will be shirt sponsors from the 2022/23 season.

As part of the partnership, Castore will take over the club’s retail operations, which will include a revamp of the club shop at The Valley as well as the club’s online shop. Castore will provide kit for all Charlton teams and for Charlton Athletic Community Trust.

Tom Beahon, Co-founder of Castore, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Charlton Athletic F.C. to the Castore team.

“Charlton are an impressive British club with an ambitious mindset, and we believe they perfectly represent our ‘Better Never Stops’ ethos. “The partnership further strengthens our presence in football, and we’re proud to continue this journey with Charlton and their deeply passionate fanbase.”

The club’s Owner and CEO, Thomas Sandgaard, said: “We are proud to announce our partnership with Castore. Like us, they are a company with big ambitions and they want to be a part of our growth.

“They have been working with us on exciting new plans to revamp our club shop and will be creating new customized kits for us to play in next season.

“I am excited to have partnered with Castore, a high-quality shirt and merchandise partner as we build for the future at Charlton.

“Aside for their quality products we know they will be aligned with us in providing a higher level of service for our supporters. Our club shop, both at The Valley and online, will be getting revamped to ensure a better experience and service going forward.”

Mukuru become official sleeve sponsor of Crystal Palace

May 4, 2022
Sponsorship, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Mukuru, a next generation financial services platform and one of the largest money transfer providers in Africa, will become Crystal Palace’s official sleeve sponsor for the 2022/23 season.

Mukuru has more than ten million customers, and has completed more than 100 million transactions since inception in 2004. In addition to offering International Money Transfers, Mukuru also helps its customers around the world to address their broader financial needs.

Palace’s squad boasts several key players who represent African countries, including Wilf Zaha, Jordan Ayew, Jeff Schlupp, and African Cup of Nations winner Cheikhou Kouyate.

Andy Jury, CEO of Mukuru, says,

“Mukuru is a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do. Our essence and passion lie in helping to solve problems for Africa’s emerging consumers through financial inclusion and uniting people across the world. This passion drives the way we do business, the way we communicate with our customers and the way we choose partnerships.

“Soccer is the most supported sport on the African continent, uniting people globally, and our customers identified Crystal Palace as one of the teams they support.

“A team with several African players and an iconic coach with strong African heritage in Patrick Viera who our Mukuru customers look up to and resonate with. We are excited to be associated with Crystal Palace, a well-respected and prestigious Premier League team. The sponsorship places Mukuru on an international stage, further entrenching our global presence, operating in over 50 countries around the world,”

Barry Webber, Commercial Director of Crystal Palace, says,

“This is a really exciting partnership for Crystal Palace, and we’re thrilled to welcome Mukuru on board.

“As a club, we are incredibly proud of our links with the African continent, which were encapsulated by midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate winning the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.

This partnership will help us to continue to expand our international fanbase, and Mukuru join us at a fantastically exciting time for the club, both on the pitch and off of it.”

Oliver Gray Joins the Williams Racing Driver Academy

March 7, 2022
Driver Management, FIA F4, Formula One, Karting, Motorsport, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

WH Sports are delighted to announce the Ollie Gray is officially part of Williams Racing and their Driver Academy.

“Today is a special day in my career as I can officially say I am part of Williams,” the British teenager said on his first day at Grove. “Williams is a team with so much history and success in Formula One and I hope to one day be able to add to that.
“As I begin working with the team, my immediate goals are to develop as a driver both on and off the track, as well as focus on my 2022 season; I can’t wait to get started. “There are lots of people who have played a role in my motorsport career so far and I would like to thank everyone, particularly Sven, Jost and the team at Williams Racing for their belief in me.”

The young racer from Surrey enjoyed a stellar debut season in British F4 with two wins and two pole positions to his name, whilst later competing in the final two rounds of the Italian F4 Championship.
There was plenty of success for Ollie early in his junior career as well, claiming multiple Motorsport UK and British Kart Championship titles at the X30 Junior level, before finishing as vice-champion in the 2019 IAME Euro Series.
The team is pleased to confirm that for 2022, Ollie will compete in the British F4 Championship with Carlin.

Williams Sporting Director Sven Smeets is understandably pleased to welcome a new member to the team, saying: “We are incredibly pleased to welcome Oliver to the Williams Racing Driver Academy.
“He showed great talent during his karting career and the team was impressed with his debut year in single seaters. “We are all looking forward to working with Oliver to best support his progression through the junior motorsport ladder, and I’m confident that he will prove a great asset to our team.”

As part of his role in the Williams F1 Driver Academy, Ollie will be fully immersed at Grove, working closely with departments across the business to support his development.

Castore Partner Newcastle United

July 9, 2021
Aquisition, English Premier League, Football, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

WH Sports are delighted to announce a new multi-year partnership between British sportswear group Castore and Newcastle United Football Club, which will see Castore creating bespoke kit ready for the 2021/22 Premier League season.

As part of the partnership, Castore will take over the club’s retail operations – launching a new, modernised club store at St. James’ Park, a revamped online store and additional retail outlets in Newcastle city centre.

Castore – with its slogan Better Never Stops – was founded by sporting brothers Tom and Phil Beahon in 2015. It develops highly innovative sportswear using patented fabrics and advanced technical engineering and has established impressive partnerships across a wide range of sports.

As well as collaborations with several elite athletes, including Sir Andy Murray, Owen Farrell and Adam Peaty, Castore’s growing portfolio of teams includes the McLaren Formula 1 team, Glasgow Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Castore expects to partner with five leading clubs across Europe for the 2022/2023 season. It aims to utilise its digital expertise and capabilities in technical engineering to create products that enhance player performance and increase club revenues from branded merchandise.

Lee Charnley, Managing Director at Newcastle United, said: “We are delighted to confirm the new partnership between Newcastle United and Castore.

“Castore has already built a reputation as an aspirational brand in a highly competitive sportswear market and we feel they are a great partner for the club.

“We welcome them to Newcastle United and look forward to developing a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore, said: “I am thrilled to be partnering with one of the most historic and famous clubs in English football.

“Newcastle has a huge and deeply passionate fan base, and we look forward to giving the ‘Toon Army’ something else to get excited about next season.

“We believe the partnership signals not only a new shirt for the new season but also a new start, a new better for this iconic club.”

ICM.com Become Official Partner of Scuderia Alpha Tauri

May 20, 2021
Formula One, Sponsorship, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

WH Sports have brokered ICM.com’s first partnership within F1, as the forex brand join Scuderia AlphaTauri’s F1 team on a multi-year basis.

The partnership, which begins at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, will be aimed at raising global brand awareness for ICM.com. This will be achieved by running several marketing campaigns on AlphaTauri’s digital and social platforms throughout the year.

In addition, ICM.com will receive prominent branding on the race suits of drivers Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, as well as on team kit and in the garages.

“I’m pleased to announce this exciting partnership with ICM.com who, like Scuderia AlphaTauri, operates on a global scale every day,” said Franz Tost, AlphaTauri team principal.

“As a team that competes in an international championship, we are exposed to FOREX transactions daily, which is one of the core competencies of the ICM.com business.

“It’s great to welcome such a future-oriented company to our team and we look forward to building a strong relationship together this season.”

Turkish Grand Prix cancelled as F1 reshuffles 2021 calendar

AlphaTauri have also announced a partnership with global blockchain platform Fantom.

Gasly secured a brand ambassador deal with Fantom earlier in the season, with his partnership with the company set to continue.

As part of the deal, Fantom’s logo will feature on AlphaTauri’s AT02 car during the Monaco and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix

British kart star Ollie Gray joins WH Sports ahead of single-seater debut

March 11, 2021
Driver Management, Drivers, FIA F3, FIA F4, FIA WEC, Formula One, Karting, Motorsport, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Rising British motor racing star Ollie Gray has added another string to his bow ahead of his single-seater debut with Fortec Motorsports in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost this year, after joining WH Sports’ stable of talented athletes.

The forthcoming campaign will represent Gray’s graduation to car racing, following a tremendously successful stint in karts. In 2019, the Chipstead-born ace won both the prestigious Motorsport UK Kartmasters Grand Prix and British Kart Championship at X30 Junior level, while simultaneously finishing as runner-up in the IAME Euro Series.

Last year, Gray stepped up to the international stage full-time under the colours of Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc with the Leclerc by Lennox Racing outfit. Contesting both the FIA World and European Championships as well as various WSK competitions in the OK class, he notably sped to an eye-catching victory in the WSK Euro Series at Sarno in Italy.

Now, the 15-year-old is ready to accelerate his career up through the gears after signing to race for reigning champions Fortec in Britain’s FIA Formula 4 series, which benefits from the considerable kudos and exposure of being on the ITV4-live televised British Touring Car Championship package. Not only that, but it has in the past helped to catapult the likes of current McLaren Formula 1 ace Lando Norris onto the fast track towards superstardom.

As Gray prepares to take his own first steps on the FIA single-seater ladder, the highly-rated Surrey teenager will do so with the full support of WH Sports – an organisation that has already carved out an enviable reputation in the industry for spotting and nurturing future motorsport stars. The ten-weekend British F4 season will get underway at Hampshire’s high-speed Thruxton Circuit on 8/9 May.

Ollie Gray, Athlete, WH Sports, said:

“This is a big year for me and my career. Having achieved success in karting – both nationally and internationally – I am well aware of the importance of maintaining that momentum as I move into cars. I obviously have a lot to learn in single-seaters, but I’m confident of being able to do so quickly and having a team of people around me to guide and support is a resource that will be absolutely vital. I am really happy for that to be WH Sports.”

Chris Harfield, Director, WH Sports, added:

“There’s no question that Ollie has been one of the top British karting talents in recent years, and we are delighted to be representing his career. He has excelled on the world karting scene and is now ready to tackle the next stage of his burgeoning career in British F4.

“With Richard [Dutton – Team Owner] and the entire staff at Fortec around him, Ollie will have a great environment in which to learn and progress. Fortec are hugely experienced at bringing promising young drivers on – you only need to look at some of the guys that have raced for them before, like Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Stoffel Vandoorne, and what they have since gone on to accomplish to appreciate the team’s enviable track record of success.

“Ollie has already conducted a number of tests in the car, the results of which have been very encouraging, and I have no doubt that he has a very exciting year ahead of him!”

Bearman joins VAR for 2021 FIA F4

January 25, 2021
Driver Management, Drivers, FIA F3, FIA F4, Formula One, Karting, Motorsport, Race Teams, Sports Sponsorship, WHS

Up-and-coming racer Ollie Bearman has taken a big step in his motorsport career by signing for leading FIA F4 team, Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR).

Chelmsford-based Bearman caught Van Amersfoort Racing’s eye during the course of a successful rookie season last year, with wins in both the German and Italian FIA F4 Championships. With VAR, Bearman should be granted many more opportunities to add to his victory tally in 2021 – not to mention challenge for title glory.

His results last year were achieved despite having the shortest preparation time for the campaign – only racing due to a pandemic-enforced delay in the motorsport calendar that allowed him to turn 15 just in time to compete in FIA F4.

His move to single-seaters was made with a mere handful of tests under his belt, yet he still out-raced and out-qualified many more experienced drivers, scoring several podiums in addition to his two wins.

VAR is a multiple title-winning outfit and following such an impressive first season in cars, the team’s CEO Rob Niessink said he was extremely happy to have Bearman on-board.

“While we were on our way to winning the championship with our Red Bull Junior drivers last year, Ollie was one of the guys always giving us a hard time, and when we subsequently tested with him in December, we immediately ‘clicked’, giving both sides confidence that our co-operation would be successful,” Niessink said. “With Ollie, alongside the other drivers that we will announce soon, we know we again have a strong line-up to fight for the title. Let’s go for it!”

Bearman’s success last year came off the back of clinching both the Junior European and Junior World karting crowns in the X30 class in 2019. The King Edward VI Grammar School student also had a triumph in the X30 Winter Cup in Valencia to his name, before taking the step up to single-seaters.

On this latest move, Bearman said: “I’m really pleased to be joining VAR for the 2021 season in F4. We had a very positive test at the end of last year and I am confident that we have the ability to be really strong together. There are a lot of good teams and drivers in F4, but our goal is to finish 2021 with a championship title. I am looking forward to getting on-track and preparing with the team for a big season ahead.”

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