Jordan confirms DHL title sponsorship.

To no-one's great surprise, Eddie Jordan has officially confirmed that logistics giant DHL will assume the role of title sponsor for his eponymous team in 2002.

The team's CEO formally announced that the Deutsche Post WorldNet subsidiary would take over from cigarette brand Benson&Hedges at the spectacular launch of the DHL Jordan Honda team in an aircraft hangar at Brussels airport. The deal will see the team's 2002 challenger - the EJ12-Honda - running in its now familiar yellow livery, but with red DHL logos on the side pods.

Benson&Hedges and Deutsche Post will both remain on the car as secondary backers.

"This is an exciting and historic day for the team," Jordan said at the launch, which was held in Brussels to coincide with the location of DHL's headquarters, "After two excellent years working with Deutsche Post WorldNet, we have reached an agreement with them whereby their DHL brand becomes the title sponsor of our team.

"There is much talk of tough times in Formula One, but this agreement demonstrates that our sport continues to provide an excellent global marketing platform. We are very much looking forward to the year ahead together racing as DHL Jordan Honda."

The DHL logo had appeared in a small way on previous Jordans, but now takes centre stage as the company steps up its promotional effort in the increasingly-crowded logistics market.

"Formula One has proved to be the perfect tool to improve the international awareness of Deutsche Post WorldNet," commented Dr Gert Schukies, managing director of the company's corporate communications department, "Now, by associating our famous DHL brand with the Jordan team, we are leveraging its potential on the greatest possible platform, the Formula One circuit.

"DHL is regarded as the jewel in the crown of the industry and this powerful brand will now get even stronger. The engagement is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the strengths that have made DHL the world leader in the international air express industry. Like a Formula One team, DHL has to be fast, exact and precise in its business operations, using state-of-the-art technology but in the end relying on people to get things right."

"We are proud of this tradition and view our partnership with the Jordan team as the perfect fit," added Dr Axel Gietz, DHL's corporate affairs director.

Jordan has already announced new sponsorship from the Damovo telecoms brand, and is expected to unveil more new names to F1 during today's launch.