Virgin Group to sponsor Brawn GP team

British entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Group has agreed a substantial sponsorship deal with the new Brawn GP team, both sides announced at the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Branson told a news conference at the Albert Park circuit that he had signed the deal only four hours before stepping on a plane for Australia and would use the Formula One team to promote a clean fuel revolution.

"Over the years Virgin has had the great honour of partnering with technical geniuses and I truly believe that (team owner) Ross Brawn is to F1 what Burt Ratan is to space travel with Virgin Galactic," he added.

Brawn, who have taken over from departed Honda, will compete in Sunday's season-opening race among the favourites and with Virgin branding on their white cars.