Caterham F1 team has today announced that it has signed a deal with SIBUR to be an official team partner.

SIBUR, the largest petrochemical company in Russia and Eastern Europe, has also confirmed that it is continuing the partnership agreement it began in 2011 with Vitaly Petrov in his new role as Race Driver for the Anglo/Malaysian Caterham F1 Team. The SIBUR logo will feature on the CT01 cars and on Vitaly's race suits throughout the 2012 season.

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "We are delighted to welcome SIBUR into our team and to help them continue their relationship in F1 with Vitaly, and now with Caterham F1 Team. F1 is a truly global sport, and SIBUR's investment in our sport is proof of the value F1 can bring, on a national and international level, so we are looking forward to working closely with Mr Konov and his team at SIBUR to help them realise maximum benefit from this partnership."

Dmitry Konov, CEO of SIBUR: "I'm very glad that Vitaly's career in Formula One is continuing with such an exciting new role at Caterham F1 Team. Vitaly plays a very important role for us, and all Russians. Formula One mixes cutting-edge technology and the highest level of competition, and these are concepts SIBUR understands very well. We understand how big a challenge it is to succeed  in such an intense environment, and to maintain mastery of the conditions whilst always being at the very forefront of technical progress. That is why we are glad to give Vitaly and Caterham F1 Team our support. It is a real pleasure for us to continue our partnership in 2012, when Russia - thanks to Petrov as well - takes another step closer to Formula One.

Notes for editors

About SIBUR

SIBUR Holding JSC is the largest petrochemical company in Russia and Eastern Europe, one of the fastest growing petrochemical companies in the world, top 3 EBITDA margin in petrochemical industry globally.

The company operates across the entire petrochemical process chain from gas processing, production of monomers, plastics and synthetic rubbers to the processing of plastics. SIBUR is a vertically integrated company with its gas processing facilities providing feedstock for its petrochemical production. SIBUR's export sales are around 40-45%. The company has trade houses in Europe and China.

Overall, the company produces more than 2000 different brands of products and invested more than $2 billion in further developments in 2011. One of SIBUR's top priorities is to invest in the modernisation of its plants and technologies.

SIBUR is conscious of its social responsibility to create and ensure safe working conditions, to protect the health of its staff and the population living in the areas where the company conducts its operations. SIBUR develops and improves the corporate ecological management system in accordance with international standards.

About Caterham F1 Team 

Caterham F1 Team began life in September 2009 when shareholders Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin were granted their entry into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. Just six months later the team had both cars classified in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, a platform which served to propel the team, then on track under the guise of Lotus Racing, to the position of fastest new team in F1. 2011 saw the team race as Team Lotus, successfully achieving its goal of winning tenth place in the championship and closing the gap to the established midfield teams ahead.

For 2012, Caterham F1 Team is the new, long-term identity the team will race under and the new home for Russia's Vitaly Petrov, who joins Heikki Kovalainen as one of the two race drivers pushing on to join some of the most famous names in global motorsport as they challenge for honours in Formula One.