[DalekSam]

As I was just chatting with Andlabs earlier on the IRC, I was recently watching (just a few hours ago actually) the 1993 Donington Park Grand Prix on YouTube, held as the annual 'European' Grand Prix for the year as a temporary circuit. The race is known for a few things, such as Ayrton Senna making a good drive, and it having radically changing weather, but it was also sponsored by Sega as made clear by the usage of Sonic and the Sega logo plastered all over the circuit. Watching the coverage, there was barely any reference to the blue mascot, nor even Sega, but this is typical of two middle aged men who can't even get people's names right.



Now, blabbing aside (and to make the topic relevant in its subforum), I was just wondering--how important is this event? Considering it's an official event obviously sponsored by Sega to pick up sales for the popular Mega Drive and Master System, it would deserve some sort of mention, surely?

Also related to Formula One and Sega, there is also the Williams team livery of that year to be mentioned, as it's also got Sega branding on it:



Just thought this could spark up some insight—this could just go into something like "Sega branding in motorsport" as something collective, as I've rarely seen them in motorsport at all. That said, some sort of synopsis of the 1993 European Grand Prix couldn't hurt.

[FlashTHD]

Awfully slow, aren't y'all?

March 14 - November 7:

* Sega sponsors Formula 1's Williams team for the 1993 season. Sonic's gloves and trademark red sneakers are painted on the car, positioned to suggest that Sonic's feet are at the pedals. The team's drivers, Damon Hill and Alain Prost, sport Sonic's smirking mug on their helmets. (Opposing team McLaren added a squashed hedgehog insignia to their car each time they won a race over Williams.) The Williams-Renault team went on to become the world champions of the season. Additionally, the third GP of the year was sponsored by Sega, with a giant Sonic balloon and Sega billboards placed around Donington Circuit. The race queens were decked out in tight-fitting Sonic costumes, and the race winner, Ayrton Senna, was awarded a statue featuring Sonic holding a gold trophy.

[Overlord]

There's a spread in one of the Sonic annuals about this race, actually. What's especially cute if you look on the car is the hedgehog legs positioned so they look like the driver's. =P

Also, while we're on the subject of Sega sponsoring sport:





Currently unable to check the state of any articles on this on Sega Retro due to the board status.

[NiktheGreek]

Also, while we're on the subject of Sega sponsoring sport:

Wasn't just Arse they sponsored...

Saint-Etienne:





Sampdoria:







Deportivo de La Coruna



JEF United

This post has been edited by NiktheGreek: 03 April 2011 - 02:49 PM

[LOst]

As I was just chatting with Andlabs earlier on the IRC, I was recently watching (just a few hours ago actually) the 1993 Donington Park Grand Prix on YouTube, held as the annual 'European' Grand Prix for the year as a temporary circuit. The race is known for a few things, such as Ayrton Senna making a good drive, and it having radically changing weather, but it was also sponsored by Sega as made clear by the usage of Sonic and the Sega logo plastered all over the circuit. Watching the coverage, there was barely any reference to the blue mascot, nor even Sega, but this is typical of two middle aged men who can't even get people's names right.



Now, blabbing aside (and to make the topic relevant in its subforum), I was just wondering--how important is this event? Considering it's an official event obviously sponsored by Sega to pick up sales for the popular Mega Drive and Master System, it would deserve some sort of mention, surely?

Also related to Formula One and Sega, there is also the Williams team livery of that year to be mentioned, as it's also got Sega branding on it:



Just thought this could spark up some insight—this could just go into something like "Sega branding in motorsport" as something collective, as I've rarely seen them in motorsport at all. That said, some sort of synopsis of the 1993 European Grand Prix couldn't hurt.

I was watching the F1 1993 season reviews on Youtube, two days ago actually, and what I liked about the European Grand Prix was the line of posing girls dressed up as Sonic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hV1L6ptwJs 2:30

Sega was so lucky to sponsor Williams in their "Active Suspension" year, but at the same time, got Ayrton Senna into Super Monaco GP 2 when he still was with McLaren.

[Xilla]

Watching the coverage, there was barely any reference to the blue mascot, nor even Sega, but this is typical of two middle aged men who can't even get people's names right.

Well the coverage was provided by the BBC and they would always avoid mentioning sponsors. Infact they pulled the plug on their coverage of one of the British GPs in the 1970s because one of the cars was sponsored by Durex!

[Scarred Sun]

I've been wanting to get that Arsenal Dreamcast jersey for a while, but getting a small for a reasonable price is ridiculous. That being said, that Sampadoria away jersey rules and I may have to start looking for it as well.

On the whole documentation front, do we know of any other instances than football club sponsorship and the 93 Grand Prix? Trying to deduce whether to just give each their own page or do a compilation of things.

[nineko]

That being said, that Sampadoria away jersey rules and I may have to start looking for it as well.

I might be able to help with that, if anything because I live in Italy. However it might be hard to track it down even for me, because according to wikipedia, the Dreamcast sponsor was used from 1999 to 2001, which means 12 to 10 years ago, so I'm not sure where I should look for :|

(by the way those pictures were posted in a misleading order, the blue kit is the home one, and the white kit is the away one. The gray kit is either the third variation (used in special matches) or the Goalkeeper's, not sure)

[Xilla]

IIRC the Sonic legs below the driver were replaced later in the season by Sonic's fist punching through a Sega logo.

[NiktheGreek]

On the whole documentation front, do we know of any other instances than football club sponsorship and the 93 Grand Prix?

Yup! Sega sponsored a snowboard team to promote the 32X, and a lot of sporting sponsorships are made in Japan. There's a list here, and good lord, does that character on the baseball pic look close to Feel or what? A closer look says no, but that design is bloody close and almost certainly draws some direct inspiration.

[LOst]

On the whole documentation front, do we know of any other instances than football club sponsorship and the 93 Grand Prix?

Yup! Sega sponsored a snowboard team to promote the 32X, and a lot of sporting sponsorships are made in Japan. There's a list here, and good lord, does that character on the baseball pic look close to Feel or what? A closer look says no, but that design is bloody close and almost certainly draws some direct inspiration.

God I am so sick tired of Uekawa's design by now, and his poses! >.<

Viccy looks like Cream The Rabbit to me.

This post has been edited by LOst: 12 April 2011 - 05:03 AM

[Hivebrain]

I found a Sega-sponsored BMX event from 1990:

[SteelBrush]

This information about the '93 Grand Prix can be found in the Sonic Jam Hall of Fame.




More info here.




Another interesting promotion, does anyone remember this?