The organisers of the award-winning Ealing Half Marathon have announced that Mercedes-Benz Brentford is sponsoring the race for the fifth year running as part of its community sponsorship programme.

The west London retailer, part of the Mercedes-Benz Retail Group, has handed over the keys of an Ealing Half Marathon branded smart forfour Passion to race directors Kelvin Walker and Sandra Courtney.

The new car will be used as the lead car on race day and to promote the event around town over the following months.

Trevor Webb, general manager at Mercedes-Benz Brentford, said: “We are immensely proud to be supporting the Ealing Half Marathon for the fifth year by providing the lead car.

“The race is a big annual event in Ealing and we very much look forward to entering a team and enjoying the event ourselves.

“It is the perfect opportunity for our team to get involved with the local community and enjoy the superb atmosphere of race day!”

The sixth Ealing Half Marathon takes place on September 24, with runners travelling from all over the UK and abroad to experience the #EalingFeeling.

The race was voted the UK’s best half marathon in 2014, 2015 and 2016 at The Running Awards, and took home the Silver award in the same category in 2017.

Race director Sandra Courtney said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mercedes-Benz Brentford back on board as a sponsor of the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon.

“As a local business, they are extremely supportive of the work we do and it gives the race a brilliant community feel.”

In previous years, Mercedes-Benz Brentford has supported the Ealing Half Marathon by providing a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT as the lead car in 2014 and an £1,800 ebike in 2015 that the winner put up for auction in support of Alzheimer’s Society.

In 2016, Mercedes-Benz Brentford provided a high-performance bike as a prize for one of the race finishers.

The winner of the bike, Marissa Weinrauch, went on to donate the bike to Springhallow school, an Ealing Community Special School for children aged 4-16 with autism.

Marissa Weinrauch, winner of the Mercedes-Benz bike at the 2016 Ealing Half Marathon, said: “I’d like to thank the Ealing Half Marathon and Mercedes-Benz for the generous prize and the great work they do throughout Ealing.

“I had a fantastic time at the Ealing Half Marathon – my first ever running event – and look forward to participating again!”

The bike has been a wonderful addition to the school and is hugely enjoyed by the pupils who cover a wide range of learning abilities.

As is tradition, a team of some 20 runners from Mercedes-Benz Brentford will be taking part in the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon and raising money for charity, including General Manager Trevor Webb who has participated in the Ealing Half Marathon since its inauguration following the London Olympics in 2012.

Set up by runners in 2012 as a legacy to London’s Olympic Games, the Ealing Half Marathon is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which puts all profit straight back into the community to make health and fitness available to all.

Activities and projects funded by the race include drives to tackle childhood obesity, school visits and running clubs for children and adults.

The 13.1-mile single lap, traffic-free course takes runners through parts of Central Ealing, Montpelier, Pitshanger, West Ealing, Hanwell and St Stephens before returning to Lammas Park.

The Lead Charities for the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon are Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society.

Entries for the Ealing Half Marathon 2017 are now open.

The entry fee is £40 for affiliated runners and £42 for non-affiliated runners.

Organisers are expecting the race to sell out by the end of July.