March 20, 2013 - Honda announced that Castrol, the world famous high-performance lubricant brand, will be the title sponsor of its factory team in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The sponsorship deal, unveiled at the FIA’s WTCC media presentation in Turin, Italy this morning, heralds a new team name - Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team – as well as an exciting green, white and red livery for the Civic WTCC.

At the same presentation Honda also announced that international automotive supplier, the Brose Group, will join Castrol as co-sponsors.

The new team’s stylish 2013 livery aims to accentuate the lines of the new Civic, as well as reflect the corporate colors of Castrol – red and green on white. As a symbol of the strong spirit of the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team, the color scheme also incorporates Honda's own colors, as well as colors from the Italian and Portuguese flags to represent the nationality of J.A.S. Motorsport and drivers Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro.

Alessandro Mariani, Team Principal of the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team, said:
"We are delighted to have Castrol join us as our team’s title sponsor. Like Honda, Castrol has a long and proud history in the world of motorsport and their enthusiasm and passion for racing matches our own. I look forward to our partnership in 2013 and on achieving the success and results we are all aiming for."

Donald Smith, Castrol Global Marketing Manager, said:
“For us, and I’m sure for racing fans around the world too, there is also something special about the coming together of two brands with such rich and successful racing pedigrees. Equally, it seems so fitting that the new livery works on so many levels too – from Castrol and Honda sharing the red and white, to the combined colors reflecting the nationalities of the team and drivers.”

Thomas Spangler, President of Brose Asia, said:
“Brose has been a long term supporter of Tiago Monteiro, so we are really pleased with this announcement today that we are not only supporting his efforts in the WTCC campaign, but the entire Honda team. We saw a glimpse in the last three races of the 2012 season what the team is capable of and we can’t wait to see the team reach its full potential in 2013.”

Team driver and 2009 WTCC champion Gabriele Tarquini said:
"The livery on the Civic looks absolutely fantastic and I’m sure it will wow the fans this season. I know a lot of thought and time has gone into its design and it’s the colors of the Italian flag too, so I couldn’t be more pleased!”

Tiago Monteiro echoed his team mate’s thoughts:
“Castrol is such an iconic brand and sponsor in the world of motorsport, so I feel very honoured to be flying their colors this season. I’m equally pleased that Brose, who has been a long term supporter of my career, is joining the team as co-sponsors. Like Gabriele, I will be looking to repay their support with results."

The 2012 Civic WTCC exceeded expectations by achieving its first podium finish after only two races. However, to further improve the car’s competitiveness, Honda R&D and J.A.S. Motorsport have put the car through a winter development testing programme in Valencia, Aragon, Cremona and Monza.

The new car has been developed with the aim of enhancing drivability, with sharp engine pick-up and more linear cornering control ability. The resulting 2013 Civic WTCC is the culmination of all the experiences and data collected during this testing programme as well as the three races in 2012.

The Championship will begin with the Race of Italy at Monza on 24 March 2013, finally ending in Macau on 17 November 2013 after twenty-four races.

Castrol manufactures and markets high performance lubricating oils and solutions to customers and consumers in over 60 countries. Castrol’s commercial success is underpinned by their continuous ability to deliver improved performance through leadership in technology and innovation. This has helped Castrol deliver superior performing lubricants for over 100 years including brands such as Castrol EDGE, Castrol Magnatec, Castrol Power 1 and Castrol Professional. Castrol also partners with its sponsored teams and projects sharing their expertise in order to improve overall performance.

The Brose Group is the fourth largest family-owned company in the automotive supply industry. Around 21,000 Brose employees develop and produce mechatronic systems and electric motors for car bodies and interiors at 53 locations in 23 countries. The company is the global market leader for window regulators, door systems, closure modules, and drives for electronic braking systems (EBS), drive train actuators and cooling fan modules. In Europe Brose is the market leader for power seat adjusters and the second largest supplier of closure systems.