The Florida Lottery, which currently sits at $260 million, is the primary sponsor this weekend of the No. 55 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car driven by St. Petersburg resident Tristan Vautier.

“I played the lottery a few times this winter hoping it would help me get my first ride in an IndyCar,” joked Vautier, who won the Firestone Indy Lights race on the street circuit in 2012 and will make his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Also KV Racing Technology-SH announced today it has partnered with Hydroxycut, America’s top weight loss supplement brand to sponsor the No. 11 car driven by Tony Kanaan.

Kanaan, the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, will pilot the No, 11 Hydroxycut Chevrolet at the 2013 Indianapolis 500 plus 8 additional events over the course of the 2013season. The new Hydroxycut livery unveiled today is being referred to as one of the more aggressive liveries seen in the paddock.

“This is a great day for our team, and an even better day for INDYCAR fans,” said SH Principal James “Sulli” Sullivan. “In celebration of the launch of the Hydroxycut Machine, they’ll be handing out free samples to IndyCar fans starting right here in St Pete and will continue at races across the IndyCar schedule”, added Sulli.

The No. 11 Hydroxycut Machine makes its formal debut at the Honda  Grand Prix of St Petersburg.

“The HYDROXYCUT Machine is one of the most interesting IndyCar’s we’ve ever built, and I think I echo most of the fans comments that we all cannot wait to see it on the track tomorrow,” said KVRT Principal Jimmy Vasser. “If she runs half as good as she looks, we’ll be in victory lane on Sunday!” said Vasser.

Kent’s fastest growing office technology provider, abortion Balreed has become the shirt sponsor of Kent Cricket in a three-year deal.

The Kent-based company are major sponsor of the Club’s LV County Championship team, the partnership includes the playing and replica shirts being branded with the Balreed logo.

“I’m very proud to be Kent Cricket’s Championship team major sponsor and a key partner of the Club,” explains Robin Stanton-Gleaves, Balreed’s Managing Director; “I started the business in Kent 10 years ago, and whilst we now operate across the country, Maidstone is still our national hub and over half our staff live or work in the Kent county area.

“We have a superb team at Balreed who work together to deliver exceptional performances to our clients, and I know the Kent Cricket team share the very same principles, so we are in good company!”

Kent Cricket CEO, Jamie Clifford commented on the partnership; “We have been impressed by the standard of service offered by Balreed, particularly since moving into our new office building at the St Lawrence Ground.

“We look forward to working with Balreed more closely and are extremely pleased to have them on board.”

Balreed are a leading provider of print and office technology and managed print services nationwide. The company’s head office and all national operations are based in Maidstone, and from here thousands of clients and their office equipment is monitored and pro-actively supported by Balreed’s unique managed print services.

Novo Nordisk, which became INDYCAR’s official diabetes care provider in 2012, has increased its promotion of the sport by sponsoring the Emergency Care Vehicle for 2013.

The company also will move its Race With Insulin display, designed to raise awareness of diabetes to visitors, into the INDYCAR Fan Village. Novo Nordisk is a global leader in innovative insulin delivery systems such as FlexPen, which is used by IZOD IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball.

“The Race With Insulin program is an important piece to Novo Nordisk’s involvement with INDYCAR and moving it inside the INDYCARFan Village will expose the program to many more race fans,” said George McAvoy, vice president of diabetes marketing for Novo Nordisk. “Our sponsorship of Charlie Kimball shows that having diabetes doesn’t have to slow you down on the track, and expanding our partnership with INDYCAR will bring that message to more race fans.”

Mutual of Omaha has become an associate sponsor of Andretti Autosport and one of the hottest young drivers on the IndyCar circuit, viagra Marco Andretti.

“Mutual of Omaha is thrilled to sponsor Andretti Autosport and Marco Andretti for the upcoming IndyCar Season,” said Mutual of Omaha Senior VP John Hildenbiddle. “Mutual of Omaha and Andretti Autosport have a lot in common, including a great name, a terrific team and a winning tradition. We’re happy to be part of the Andretti Autosport team and we look forward to celebrating with Marco in the winner’s circle.”

As associate sponsor, the Mutual of Omaha brand is highlighted on the side and rear wings of Marco Andretti’s No. 25 IndyCar, Hildenbiddle said. In addition, Mutual’s brand will be highlighted on Andretti’s driving suit, team fire suits, team car transporter, pit equipment and collateral materials.

“We are really proud to have Mutual of Omaha join our team as a corporate partner supporting Marco Andretti and his No. 25 IndyCar entry,” said Doug Bresnahan, VP of Marketing Partnerships for Andretti Autosport. “Mutual of Omaha is a leader in its field and our organizations both share a tradition of excellence and winning legacy. We look forward to representing Mutual of Omaha, its employees, affiliates and customers on the track this season as Marco contests the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship.”

Tobacco related sponsorships have re-entered British Superbikes after E-Lites, the UK’s biggest e-cigarette brand announced a ground breaking partnership with the MCE British Superbike Championship for the 2013 season.

The partnership signals a return to motorsport for a smoking related product for the first time since tobacco related sponsorships ended in 2005. 

The E-Lites sponsorship package will include trackside and event branding as well as a range of other on-site rights and hospitality such as a dedicated section on the MCE BSB championship website for fans to upload their E-Lites race highlights. The distinctive red and white E-Lites branding will be displayed prominently at all races throughout 2013 and will be reminiscent of the iconic branding which was famously associated with motorsport throughout the 1980’s. 

Commenting on the partnership E-Lites’ CEO, Adrian Everett, said: “We are delighted to be associated with the MCE British Superbike Championship and that E-Lites, as the nation’s favourite e-cig brand, is trail blazing for the category. 

“Partnering with a sport that was once synonymous with tobacco sponsorship is our way of raising awareness that smoking has been reinvented and that E-Lites provide an alternative that is widely regarded as being safer than cigarettes. 

“2013 has been a year of firsts for E-Lites. In January we became the first company in the UK to run a national TV advertising campaign for e-cigarettes containing nicotine.  With the announcement of this sponsorship we are demonstrating our commitment to continuing to leading the way for the e-cig category.” 

Stuart Higgs, MCE British Superbikes series director, said: “It is a credit to the MCE British Superbike Championship that we have attracted a dynamic brand like E-Lites. 

“Their growth has been phenomenal and the synergy between E-Lites and the fast moving, high drama spectacle that is MCE British Superbikes is obvious. Using our wide range of media communications tools E-Lites will be able to promote the significant benefits of switching to a non-tobacco related product to our huge audience.” 

E-Lites has also agreed personal sponsorships with MCE BSB rider Pete Hickman and Pirelli Superstock 600 rider Tim Hastings. 

The brand has further extended its reach into the motorsport arena with the announcement of a partnership with Matt Bell Racing for the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship. The agreement will see the team re-named Matt Bell Racing (Team E-Lites) and its single-seater race car fully wrapped with the eye catching E-Lites branding. 

Adrian Everett added: “We are proud to be involved with such a promising young driver in this inaugural year for the BRDC Formula 4 Championship. We are looking forward to some exciting racing and to being part of a championship which has been specifically set up to nurture the talent of up-coming young drivers and source the Formula 1 stars of the future.” 

Established in 2007, E-Lites has transformed the e-cigarette market, creating a product that offers the most authentic look, taste and sensation of a traditional cigarette but free of tobacco, tar and carbon monoxide. Made using the latest technology, E-Lites’ patented design offers a unique smoking experience.

Global computer brand, cheap Microsoft has announced it has acquired the naming rights to a V8 Supercar event in Tasmania.

The Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 is Tasmania’s single largest sporting event each year. It is beamed live throughout Australia and New Zealand, and broadcast to some 137 countries globally.

V8 Supercars CEO David Malone said this latest partnership captured the technology and innovation being used by the sport at and away from the race track.

“Microsoft is a world leader in technology and it is great to see such a globally recognised organisation support our sport,” said Mr Malone.

“This is a fantastic opportunity which sees Microsoft’s support of V8 Supercars for the first time, further highlighting the new era of our sport.”

Mark Leigh, Marketing and Operations Director, Microsoft Australia, said: “Behind every great sport there is a team working behind the scenes to help make the magic happen. Already a valued customer of ours, we’re excited to be a bigger part of the V8 Supercars team. Through our partnership, we’re also looking forward to showcasing just how the V8 Supercars team makes this amazing sport run like a well-oiled machine.”

Tasmania’s Premier Lara Giddings welcomed the announcement of Microsoft’s sponsorship.

“As the pioneer of the National Broadband Network, Tasmania has an exciting future in information and communications technology and it is encouraging to see a multinational corporation like Microsoft taking an interest in our state through this initiative.

“As well as supporting a wonderful motor-sport event, this relationship can only help to build Tasmania’s ICT business and research reputation.”