F1 team reveals Midland sponsor
AT E L E C O MMUNI C AT I O N S company founded by a West Midlands entrepreneur has been named as the new sponsor of a Formula 1 team.
ROKit, which is run by Jonathan Kendrick and has offices in Albrighton near Wolverhampton and the US, has agreed a deal to be the title partner of Williams Racing for 2019.
The team will be known as ROKit Williams Racing, with the company’s branding adorning the new Mercedes race car, drivers’ clothing and helmets and staff uniforms.
The company was founded by Mr Kendrick and US entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, the man behind the Paul Mitchell range of hair care products and is part of the pair’s ROK Stars group of companies which includes drinks, beauty products and water purification.
ROKiT is launching a new smartphone this year and is also working internationally to develop smart cities.
Mr Kendrick’s interest in motorsport dates back to his teenage years when he worked for Goodyear Racing and he later secured the European rights of the then unknown Yokohama Tyres before moving into the mobile phone sector.
As part of the Williams trackside team, Mr Kendrick engineered the tyres of Australian driver Alan Jones’ race car at the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires.
He has also previously featured in the Birmingham Post Rich List.
Mr Kendrick said: “With ROKiT launching in 2019, we wanted a global platform that would help us tell our story of innovation.
“Williams Racing is the perfect partner. With them, we can bring F1 to audiences in new and pioneering ways.
“Williams Racing exists purely to race in the top echelon of motor racing and we see the exciting partnership of ROKiT Williams Racing as the beginning of an ambitious and exciting road back to the podium.”
Claire Williams, deputy team principal at Williams Racing, added: “We are delighted to welcome ROKiT to our team as our title partner for the 2019 season and beyond.
“ROKiT is on an exciting journey in their world of telecommunications, as we are at Williams as we build the team for a successful future.
“Taking that path together will make us both stronger in our endeavours and so I can’t wait to get started.”