Williams Sign Multi-Million Anti-Tobacco Sponsorship

Williams are set to unveil Formula One's first anti-tobacco sponsor and are understood to have secured a multi-million pound deal on the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix.

The Grove-based team buck the trend of rivals Ferrari, McLaren and Renault by avoiding tobacco sponsorship and are expected to reveal anti-smoking patch manufacturer Niquitin as their new backer on Tuesday morning.

A Williams spokesman refused to confirm the identity of the sponsor but said: "It will be interesting because it is not an insignificant off-car sponsor. It will have a high level of visibility."

The new backer is expected to replace German beverage company Veltins, who invested an estimated $6 million (US Dollars) for a place on the sides of the cockpit on last year's car.

One insider added: "They already have key contracts in place with BMW, Hewlett Packard and Reuters so nobody is going to be able to come along and get an engine cover."

Niquitin, owned by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, will have to comply with an existing contract between Williams and engine partners BMW that forces sponsors to fall in line with the team's distinctive blue and white colour scheme.

Tobacco sponsors represent Formula One's second biggest investor, with an estimated $244 million (Dollars) put into the sport compared to $922 million from the major car manufacturers.

The sport is currently battling against a tobacco sponsorship ban that is due to be introduced in the European Union in 2005, ahead of the planned worldwide ban in 2006.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, are threatening to move Grands Prix outside the European Union to avoid the ban and races in Bahrain and China will make their debuts on the calendar next year.