Australian GP announces title sponsor

This year the Australian Grand Prix takes the second round of the championship rather than its traditional season-opening slot and has today confirmed Qantas as title sponsor.

The airline previously supported the event as a title sponsor from 1997 to 2001 inclusive.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the Victorian Government was thrilled with the strong support from Qantas for this year’s event. “We greatly value the involvement of all our commercial sponsors - their support reduces the cost of this event to the Victorian Government,” he said.

“Melbourne is the major events capital of the world and will next month come alive when hundreds of thousands of Melburnians and visitors from interstate and overseas flock to Albert Park for the Grand Prix.”

Dutch bank ING sponsored the event last year, with race organisers losing a reported AUS $40m.