While doubts had arisen last May regarding the Belgian driver’s future within the Russo-British structure, the announcement of a new sponsor should definitively secure his future, or at least, until the end of the current season.<\/p>\n
This had, at the time, considerably annoyed Eric Boullier, the driver’s manager via Gravity Management: “What was promised by the partners supposed to support J\u00e9r\u00f4me is not happening. We’ve already been given numerous excuses, but enough is enough! Especially since at Virgin, they are starting to get frustrated. The team management clearly told me that they are considering replacing J\u00e9r\u00f4me if things don’t change. Fortunately, J\u00e9r\u00f4me is doing an excellent job, and the relationship between Gravity and Virgin is more than just contractual. We’re the ones dealing with the fallout and financially supporting to calm things down, but this can’t last indefinitely.”<\/p>\n
Soleco, a company specializing in solar panels, thus becomes the first Belgian company to sponsor its compatriot, as Bob Geekens is keen to point out: \u00ab After so many years, there is finally a Belgian driver back in Formula One and Soleco is delighted to be the first Belgian company to support J\u00e9r\u00f4me on his journey. To develop its international activities, Soleco Green Energy has found the perfect ambassador with J\u00e9r\u00f4me and the Marussia Virgin Racing team. This partnership will help us develop our international activities and Soleco will benefit from excellent strategic marketing opportunities. J\u00e9r\u00f4me wishes to offset his carbon emissions. To do this, Soleco will offset his carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy projects and donating part of the revenue to charities and the development of carbon-neutral projects and products.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The arrival of a Belgian driver therefore did not have the same effect as that of a Russian (Vitaly Petrov with Lotus Renault GP) or an Indian (Narain Karthikeyan with HRT), highlighting the differences in perception between Western countries and so-called emerging ones…<\/p>\n