Sports Business | Marketing Sports Events

Formula One team bosses have thrown their support behind the inaugural Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East and will take major roles in the event on April 1-2 , 2008. Ron Dennis, Frank Williams, Nick Fry, Christian Horner and Colin Kolles have all confirmed their participation.

Ron Dennis, Team Principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Chairman and CEO of McLaren Group, will be giving a Keynote Address. He said: “Everyone connected with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and all who work in and with the McLaren Group, in which the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company is an active and enthusiastic shareholder, is immensely excited about the many opportunities that the region offers. I’m therefore delighted to have been invited to deliver a keynote address to the inaugural Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East.”

The second day of the Forum will open with a prestigious question and answer session involving AT&T WilliamsF1 Managing Director Sir Frank Williams, Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and Force India F1 managing director Colin Kolles.

The Middle East Forum, which will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit, the Home of Motor Sport in the Middle East, in the run-up to this year’s fifth running of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand
Prix, has raised enormous interest throughout the region.

Talal Al Zain, Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, said: “This Forum is the first of its kind in the Middle East and we are delighted that so many companies from around the region are taking part in this opportunity. Like the Monaco version of the Forum, we have gathered a super line-up of speakers and I think that has provided enormous pulling power to generate interest from these companies as well as from those further afield.

“The Middle East has a large and vested interest in the motor sport industry. It is a major marketing platform and is a catalyst for creating greater awareness and profile the world over. Our agreement with IM2 to host the Forum gives us a significant networking opportunity where business interests can be developed amongst an elite motor sport and business delegation.”

From: http://www.sportbusiness.com