Lucky Strike BAR Honda is delighted to begin the 2005 season with the announcement of a new team partnership with leading Japanese oil company Nippon Oil Corporation (NOC).

This long-term agreement will see the supply of NOC's ENEOS lubricants to the BAR Honda team and the distinctive ENEOS logo appearing on the nose of the BAR Honda 007 and on the drivers' racesuits with effect from next weekend's curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix.

The new partnership is borne out of a long-standing relationship between NOC and Honda Motor Co., Ltd (Honda) which began in 2000. Then, NOC became the first Japanese oil refining company to supply engine oil for Formula One race cars.

Since that time, NOC has been a forerunner in the development of F1 engine oil. Under the terms of its new Lubricant Partner agreement with BAR Honda, NOC will work closely with Honda R&D Co., Ltd to further develop engine and gearbox oil for the team's racecars.

In turn, NOC aims to utilise its F1 expertise to evolve and develop the company's wider technological capabilities supporting the management vision of "Driving Relentlessly to Create New Concepts for the Future" and increasing global awareness of the ENEOS brand.

Nick Fry, BAR Honda Chief Executive Officer, commented: "I am delighted to begin the new season by welcoming NOC as another new partner with BAR Honda. They join the team at an exciting time as we aim to achieve our first race win following our 2nd place success in the 2004 Constructors' Championship.

"This partnership has evolved from a five-year relationship between NOC and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and an acute awareness of the determination within BAR Honda to work towards winning the Formula One World Championship. Following Honda's acquisition of a 45% share in the team and our strong relationships in NOC's Far Eastern target markets of Japan, China and Malaysia, BAR Honda can provide a powerful platform to assist them in achieving their objective of greater brand awareness."

Commenting on behalf of NOC, Masahito Nakamura, Managing Director, Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Lubricants & Specialties Business Division, said: "As a Lubricants Partner, NOC will supply the BAR Honda team to support its participation in Formula One - the most challenging of the world's motor sports events. NOC will therefore work to increase the performance of the team's racing cars to the highest level possible and support its ambition to win the Constructors' Championship.

"NOC aims to further evolve and develop its own technological capabilities for lubricants, based on the expertise gained in F1 racing. Through these activities, NOC will work toward realising its management vision of "Becoming a comprehensive energy company that creatively undertakes new challenges in a manner that inspires widespread support from people throughout society" and increasing the global awareness of the ENEOS brand."