THE popular Touring Car Masters category has clarified its stance on tobacco-liveried cars racing in the class, after two cars ran altered looks last weekend at The Bend.
The matter came to a head recently at the Apex Steel Muscle Car Masters, where the opening TCM race of the event was initially skipped in the event’s live broadcast.
For The Bend, the Marlboro-inspired liveries of Dave Casey and David Hender received minor tweaks to the cars’ bonnets, with the internationally trademarked chevron altered, a move which was outwardly difficult to spot on track.
“Foxtel are simply protecting themselves from the lawsuit that would occur from them showing any race car footage that impinged the Australian Government anti-tobacco advertising legislation,” said TCM Category Manager Dean Bryant via Facebook.
“Foxtel is not the enemy here!
“Supercars have commercial obligations to Foxtel, and as such they can’t afford to be involved should the Australian government or a trademark owner decide to take action against Foxtel for showing footage of cars in breach of the legislation.
“Supercars is not the enemy here!
“Motorsport Australia is the second-last link in the legal chain here should the Australian Government or a trademark owner take action.
“Motorsport Australia is not the enemy here!
“The last link in a massive legal chain here is the car owner!
“Motorsport Australia and Supercars have done nothing more than protect everyone involved here from the real threat of action from trademark holders or government authorities.
“In the case of TCM, we were informed that two of our cars may be in breach of a current internationally held trademark that involved the white chevron on the front of those cars.
“To protect themselves and ensure uninterrupted TV coverage for their fans and sponsors, those owners removed the contentious areas of signage involved, and we all enjoyed a fantastic round of racing!”
Steven Johnson dominated the category’s action at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, with three victories from as many starts, while Danny Buzadzic claimed the Trophy Race.
The category’s next outing is in support of the Repco Bathurst 1000 on October 8-11.
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