McLaren sign partnership with Olympus

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have today announced that it has reached agreement with Olympus as the team's official supplier of photographic services. With the new partnership, Olympus will continue its rich history of involvement in Formula 1 by allowing Jon Nicholson to follow the team through the season.

Olympus has previously worked closely with and has photographed some of the sport's legendary drivers such as Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. Hunt and Senna both won Drivers' World Championships with McLaren.

With the new Partnership, British photographer Jon Nicholson, using the Olympus E system, will spend the 2008 season with the team, capturing not only the on-track action but also an exclusive and intimate behind the scenes story as the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team's Championship challenge unfolds.

Ron Dennis, Team Principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: "We are delighted to welcome a renowned brand such as Olympus to our partner portfolio and look forward to a long and successful co-operation. It's always a tremendous boost for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes when we announce a new partner and to be able to do so only a few days before the start of the new season in Australia makes it even more significant. Formula 1 as a sport attacks every sense, be it sound or smell, but most importantly it is very visual. Photography can capture iconic moments in time on the race track in a way moving pictures don't allow, and it therefore forms an important element of our communication. Olympus is a visionary organisation, they seek to innovate in every area they work in and we are excited about the opportunities they can help us explore together in this area."

Olympus Managing Director Graeme Chapman: "We are delighted to be involved with the most exciting team in the sport. I am looking forward to more vintage results both on the track and on the back of Jon's E3 SLR"

As part of the partnership Olympus will post a selection of photographs from each race at www.Olympus.co.uk and provide links from there and also run a competition where entrants can win the photographic equipment used by Jon Nicholson during the 2008 race season.