JWRC: BFGoodrich to sponsor Junior Fund.

BF Goodrich have announced that they will offer a contribution of E50,000 to the FIA Junior World Rally Championship Commercial Fund.

Brokered by ISC on behalf of the competitors, each of the 22 drivers registered for the 2006 Junior series is eligible to receive a share of the fund, providing they carry BFGoodrich branding on their cars.

"BFGoodrich, a brand of the Michelin Group, is a 'young' brand and has a particular interest in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship," said Michelin's director of competition, Frederic Henry-Biabaud. "Through this contribution, BFGoodrich is not only out to support the JWRC, but is trying to help in a very direct way the young drivers of today in their efforts to become the stars of tomorrow."

Intended as a sponsorship boost to the participants in the WRC's stepping stone category, 'The Fund' is distributed between competitors at the end of the season on a descending scale, with the winner receiving EUR3000 and a minimum of EUR2000 awarded to the lowest placed competitor. 'The Fund' is not a prize fund but is a commercial incentive for competitors rewarding them for performing certain sponsorship obligations.

"BFGoodrich recognises that the JWRC Commercial Fund is a great way to build an early relationship with the stars of the future and values the TV exposure of the series - last year, 40 broadcast partners aired JWRC footage in 140 countries," added Marc de Jong, the director of commercial development for the WRC support championships. "Although this is the third year we have been running the Fund, it is still a relatively new initiative in the JWRC and we hope that more companies will follow suit!"

Over the last five years the Junior WRC has proven to be a real breeding ground for future WRC drivers and at the last round, the Rally Catalunya, over 30 per cent of World Rally Car drivers were JWRC graduates, including Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo, the event winner and runner-up respectively. A similar percentage has also been seen on other WRC events this season.