Who sponsors the famous races?

Breathtaking driving skills are not the only things on display during motorsport events. These tournaments bring more exposure to the brands that fuel the racing world.

From watch brands to auto manufacturers to insurance companies, and more, these companies sponsor the resources needed to present your favorite racing competitions. In exchange for placements, of course. In this blog piece, we explore the most famous car races and their major sponsors, including:

• The Indianapolis 500
• The Monaco Grand Prix
• The British Touring Car Championship
• The Dakar Rally
• The 24 Hours of Le Mans
• The Bathurst 1000
• The Nürburgring 24 Hours

Who Sponsors The Most Famous Car Races

1. Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500, along with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, forms part of the prestigious Triple Crown of Motorsport.

In 2019, digital financial platform Gainbrige struck a deal with Indy500 to become its main presenting sponsor. Both parties also announced a multi-year extension in 2023 but declined to reveal the length. Heading into 2025, the Gainbridge and Indy500 partnership is set to run into its sixth year.

2. British Touring Car Championship

With over 93 million viewers last season, the British Touring Car Championship is one of the most loved and famous races in the world. Kwik Fit is the BTCCs main title sponsor. A leading tire brand and automotive retailer, Kwik Fit specializes in keeping motorists safe on the road and has been a huge backer of the United Kingdom’s top-flight motorsport championship since 2019.

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3. The Dakar Rally

The Dakar Rally is a famous 10,000-kilometer endurance race starting in Paris, France, and ending in Dakar, Senegal.

Throughout the race, drivers must overcome ever-changing terrains like slippery ground, sand dunes, rocky paths, and mud. On December 28, 2022, Dakar revealed Saudi Arabian oil group Aramco as its new partner and main sponsor. However, both parties remain tight-lipped on the exact details of their deal.

4. Monaco Grand Prix

As mentioned earlier, there’s something called the Triple Crown of Motorsport, and it consists of the Monaco GP, the Indy500, and the LeMans 24 Hours, three of the most prestigious and famous auto races in history.

The Monaco Grand Prix’s official sponsor, watch partner, and timekeeper is the renowned watchmaker Tag Heuer. Shortly after the launch of 2024’s edition of the famous auto race, Julian Tornrare Tag Heuer’s CEO had this to say.

“Our collaboration with the Automobile Club of Monaco represents TAG Heuer’s deep-rooted connection to everything motorsport. As the official sponsor, watch, and timekeeper of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, we are thrilled to be here in 2024, showing our passion for the universe, and we are excited to see the races take place.”

5. 24 Hours of LeMans

Racing and timekeeping go hand in hand, so it’s not strange for racing organizers to collaborate with watchmakers. So is the case with the 24 Hours of LeMans.

Inaugurated in 1923, this competition is one part of the Motorsport Holy Trinity and the oldest endurance racing competition in the world. A stern test for both the reliability of cars and the stamina of drivers, the 24 Hours of LeMans awards the winning title to whichever team covers the most distance in, you guessed it…24 hours.

Since 2001, Rolex has served as its Exclusive Major Partner and Official Timepiece. As the race’s official timepiece, Rolex awards its watches to the top class of winners and supports the event with timekeeping duties.

6. Bathurst 1000

V8b Supercars Racing, or The Great Race as it’s also known by motorsport fans, challenges drivers to overcome 161 laps of the Mount Panorama, roughly amounting to 1000 kilometers of road. Four years ago, Supercars unveiled Repco as Bathurst’s new naming rights partner.

“We are glad to announce one of Australian motorsport’s most recognizable and premium brands as our naming rights partner…from 2021,” said Sean Seamer, Supercars CEO.

7. Nürburgring 24 Hours

Dubbed the “Green Hell” by Sir Jackie Stewart, the Nürburgring is an annual endurance racing event held in the hills of Germany and arguably the most feared circuit in the world.

In 2024, RAVENOL took over from TotalEnergies as the title sponsor of the 24H Nürburgring. As a result, this year’s edition was renamed to ADAC Ravenol 24h Race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In other news, Monster Energy has also joined the 24H Nürburgring board on a contract that runs until 2026.

Final Thoughts

The millions of people who enjoy motorsports can thank these iconic racing sponsors. These brands work hand in hand with race organizers to help make every race day unforgettable. Stay tuned because as motorsport editions come and go, so do the names behind the banners and the logos on the cars.