Title: State in the fast lane
Orginal link: http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21396366-3462,00.html
Author: MICHELLE PAINE
Published date:March 17, 2007 12:00am
FORMULA One driver Mark Webber will promote Tasmanian tourism in a $400,000 deal.[/b]


The discovertasmania.com logo will be emblazoned on Webber"s helmet for the season of one of the world"s most watched sports.

The deal was announced yesterday at the Melbourne launch of the 2007 Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge.

The website address will first be seen at this weekend"s Melbourne Grand Prix.

It"s hoped a camera in Webber"s Red Bull Racing car will boost exposure to hundreds of millions of viewers.

Tourism, Arts and Environment Minister Paula Wriedt said Webber would help promote the state through a range of avenues.

"The profile and following of Formula One, coupled with the exclusivity of this partnership, delivers a huge advantage over other Australian and international destinations competing for consumers" attention," Ms Wriedt said.

"Tasmania"s involvement with Mark will extend from branding on merchandise and racewear through to website links and a host of promotional activities around Mark"s calendar.

"This strategic branding and placement will deliver unrivalled exposure through discovertasmania.com inscribed on Mark"s racing helmet.

"Mark is very passionate about the state, as demonstrated through his involvement with the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge hosted in Tasmania each year."

Ms Wriedt said both parties had been keen to broaden the relationship and the obvious step was Webber"s F1 role.

Last year, Premier Paul Lennon announced a five-year $15 million deal with the Hawthorn Football Club.

Greens Leader Peg Putt said she believed there were other spending priorities.

"The Government"s spending priorities are all skewed," she said. "There are really important things in health, affordable housing, disability services and health that are higher priority."

If Possile try and get a Tassiechat link on that page and well be bombarded with people