Williams F1 ink deal to promote Astana

The Williams F1 Team has announced it has signed an agreement with Kazakhstani investment business TAK Group that will see the Kazakhstani capital, Astana, promoted as part of the arrangement with the outfit.

As such, the Astana name will now be positioned on the SIS vane and outer nose struts on the Williams-Renault FW35 from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards next weekend in a move that it is hoped will provide both sporting and tourism benefits to the city.

"It's with great pleasure that we welcome TAK Group as a new partner of the team and look forward to working closely with them to achieve their marketing ambitions," said Sir Frank Williams, founder and team principal of the Williams F1 Team.

Since 1997 Astana has been the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is a UNESCO World City. Situated on a bank of the Ishim River, it has become one of the largest business centres in the region and will be the site of Expo 2017 which focuses on future technologies and our 'energy future'.

Speaking about the new partnership Artur Ardavichus of TAK Group added: "F1 is one of the most high profile sports in the world and its global reach will offer Astana an unrivalled marketing platform. Williams is also one of the most respected teams in the sport so it is especially gratifying to partner with them. We are really looking forward to working together this year to promote sport and tourism in the city of Astana and the country of Kazakhstan as a whole."