RBS and the AT&T Williams team today announced that Green Flag, the rescue and recovery experts, will become part of RBS’ F1 sponsorship as the Bank seeks to widen the benefits of this association across the Group’s businesses.

Allan Watt, Head of Group Brand Communications at RBS, said:
"The RBS association with Williams is set to run until the end of 2010, but as part of an ongoing review of our sports sponsorship activity, RBS is taking the opportunity to broaden the benefit across the Group to the Green Flag business. Green Flag was a natural choice to utilise the F1 partnership for the benefit of their customers and employees in the UK and Europe as well as for new customer acquisition.

“Williams have been very supportive in finding ways for us to maximise this sponsorship and reduce costs over the course of this season and 2010. The RBS brand will remain in place alongside Green Flag on the car and remains an effective means of talking with our customers in Asia and beyond.”

* RBS and the Williams F1 team announced in February 2009 that their partnership will conclude at the end of the current contract in 2010.
* RBS continues to review all sponsorship activity resulting in a 25% reduction in sponsorship and related costs in 2009 and around 65% by 2011.
* Non contractual costs (F1) have already been reduced by over 50% with further savings from cancelling trackside advertising for 2010.
* Green Flag is part of the RBS Group providing customers with rapid breakdown cover in the UK and mainland Europe and already has a history in motor sport having sponsored F3 and the British Touring Car Championship.
* The Green Flag logo will appear on the chassis top and leading edges of the racecar sidepods and on the visor strip on the drivers’ helmets.
* Williams F1 has won 16 World Championships in 30 years, an achievement underwritten predominantly by overseas funding and thereby making a significant annual contribution to the UK’s invisible earnings.