Tencent agrees data deal with Motorsport Network

Chinese digital giant Tencent will get a motorsport statistics and results feed from media group Motorsport Network under a new, two-year deal.

Motorsport Network’s Motorsport Stats service provides data on 11 series, typically covering more than 50 events per week. The data will be used by Tencent Sports on its website, apps, social media and video streams.

Tencent is a current media rights partner in China for both Formula 1 and MotoGP.

In a press release announcing the deal, Ewell Zhao, general manager of Tencent Sports, said, “Motor sports is one of the most technologically advanced sports, with a strong demand for data capabilities. Only through various professional data analysis, we can really enter the world of motor sports.

“Motorsport Stats is a world-renowned motor sports data analysis company. Through the cooperation with Motorsport Stats, Tencent Sports will provide Chinese fans with deeper and comprehensive high-quality content services and fully demonstrate the charm of motor sports.”

Gustavo A Roche, SVP of Motorsport Network and managing director of Motorsport Stats, said, “Chinese fans will now be able to get closer to the sport and enjoy a richer experience; we are proud to feed Tencent Sport with our world-class data and stats service. Our technology captures and logs most of it, and the rest comes from our teams in the field: they live and breathe motorsport, spend their weekend at racetracks, that’s simply why we’re unbeatable in the vertical.”

Motorsport Stats is the official statistics provider for motorsport world governing body the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, and also provides data to promoters, teams, sponsors and media. Last year, it entered into a deal with the FIA to create a database of historical results.

Motorsport Network operates a range of motorsport digital services including media platforms such as Autosport.com and Motorsport.com, a jobs board, an image service, and a ticketing service, and is also active in the esports space.