BAR announces NTN as team partner.

BAR Honda today announced NTN Corporation as the latest team partner to join its growing portfolio.

The multi-year deal, which commenced at the team's 2005 car launch, will see NTN become a further on-car sponsor.

"We are proud to announce a further team partnership with NTN Corporation, a leading player in their field and a major supplier to Honda," said team boss, Nick Fry.

Kenji Okada, director and corporate general manager, NTN Corporation added: "High-tech, precision, speed - these are all values of Formula One racing.

"NTN Corporation shares and stands for these values in product development, customer services and human relations. The additional NTN brand visibility on each BAR Honda car is considered to be a great platform to increase the affinity for the NTN brand and the commitment of our people and partners to provide F1-technology products and services on a global basis.

"The BAR Honda team is known for its continuous challenge for the Championship, a target also inherent in NTN Corporation. NTN and its employees are proud to become a team partner with BAR Honda."

NTN is a leading global manufacturer of bearings and constant velocity joints with total annual sales exceeding $3.5 billion.

The company is already an active sponsor of drivers, teams and championships in the motorsport world including the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, CASCAR and the WSA/CSRA Snowcross Circuits.

Honda is one of NTN's major automotive customers. The company will therefore not only be a team partner to BAR Honda, but is looking at the potential of developing and providing new state-of-the-art products for the team's cars in the future.