Brawn brand exposure tips scales at $255m

(GMM) The brand exposure enjoyed by the Brackley based formula one team Brawn GP in 2009 was worth at least $255 million, according to the media analysis company Margaux Matrix.

Unlike the bulk of the competitors, fielded by carmakers and commercial enterprises like the Red Bull drinks company, the exposure is of limited value to new champions Brawn, whose core business is grand prix racing.

But the commercial success of the achievement must be giving pause to the Japanese car manufacturer Honda, who sold the outfit to team managers headed by Ross Brawn amid the brunt of the slump in new car sales late last year.

Margaux Matrix came up with the $255m figure by analyzing the race broadcasts of the initial 15 grands prix this season against advertising rates in 18 countries.

The Brawn cars were featured in nearly 9 hours of international coverage in those races, which was more than the famous Ferrari team and three times more than Honda's exposure of 2008.