Tobacco Advertising in F1

[miniman]

An article in this week's Autocar reminded me of something I was pondering during the US Grand Prix:

As I recall, the Ferraris and BARs didn't have their tobacco logos on show, but the McLarens had their West logos as usual. I think I noticed it because the McLarens have "David" and "Kimi" instead of the West logos, and BAR have "Plucky Dyke" or somesuch close approximation to Lucky Strike.

So, the questions are: did anyone else notice this and, if so, why were McLaren allowed their logos when the others weren't? I thought it might be because West smokes aren't sold in the US - but I'm sure I saw them over there on my last visit.

[littlegearl]

in america tobbaco companies are only allowed to sponsor one series... so Marlboro already sponsor Penske in the IRL so can't run on the Ferrari F1 cars

it was the same when Penske - competing in CART - wanted to run in the Indy 500 (an IRL race) they couldn't run with the Marlboro logos despite being the same team...

West don't sponsor any other team in any other series so are allowed to run on the McLarens... missed the race but i bet Jordan was running B&H logos...

[v8thunder]

I've no idea, but I kinda like what Jordan have done with their Benson & Hedges Logo - Be On Edge.
I wonder what BAR will call themselves when the blanket ban comes in. I heard a rumour that it was going to be one of the old favourites - Lotus, Tyrrel, BRM, Brabham or something.

[Plotloss]

Whats wrong with BAR?

BAT do own some companies that make fags.

Surely the PC crowd havent ruled that because British American can be followed by Tobacco you cant say British American together...?

[FourWheelDrift]

v8thunder said:

I've no idea, but I kinda like what Jordan have done with their Benson & Hedges Logo - Be On Edge. I wonder what BAR will call themselves when the blanket ban comes in. I heard a rumour that it was going to be one of the old favourites - Lotus, Tyrrel, BRM, Brabham or something.

Agree with Plotloss - BAR stands for British American Racing, so no tobaccoe connotations there.

As for the others, Lotus F1 name is owned by David Hunt brother of James. Tyrrell is BAR so may be used, not sure what rights they have after signing away the name in 1999 to use BAR. Bernie Ecclestone and the Brabham family I think still have the rights on that one and after a couple of failed Brabham teams in the late 1980's and 1990's I don't think they would want their name used. And BRM don't think so, someone probably has the rights to that but they are probably interlinked with another team now.

I think instead of tobbaco advertising the teams should look at the suppliers to the tobacco industry. Who supplies the paper for the cigs, boxes etc.. That way they can be involved but not fall foul of the ban.

Just an idea

[v8thunder]

BAR is connected to BAT, who own Lucky Strike, among (several) others. Apparently, when the blanket ban comes in, BAR will have to sever all links with BAT, including their similar name, which is where the new name lottery appears.
Hunt should sell the Lotus F1 team rights, and incorporate the road car engineering team. He'd have a world-beater

I thought Tyrrel was bought by Jackie Stewart as his own team, then bought again by Ford and rebranded Jaguar.

[FourWheelDrift]

v8thunder said:

I thought Tyrrel was bought by Jackie Stewart as his own team, then bought again by Ford and rebranded Jaguar.

I think Stewart started a completely new team using the space in the grid vacated by any of the teams which left Forti/Lola/Lotus. Tyrrell were bought out by BAR during 1998 and they had to gain signatures from all of the other teams to allow them to rename from Tyrrell to BAR.

[steviebee]

FourWheelDrift said:

v8thunder said: I thought Tyrrel was bought by Jackie Stewart as his own team, then bought again by Ford and rebranded Jaguar. I think Stewart started a completely new team using the space in the grid vacated by any of the teams which left Forti/Lola/Lotus. Tyrrell were bought out by BAR during 1998 and they had to gain signatures from all of the other teams to allow them to rename from Tyrrell to BAR.

It was BAR who bought Tyrrell.

I though it was an excellent marekting opportunity missed in that they should have retained the name, even adding British American to the front (thus retaining BAT rather than a "new" BAR) and they would have also retained a massive world-wide fan base and the good-will that went with the Tyrrell name.

Knowing that the Tobacco ban would be implimented, they could then just ditch the BA bit.

Simple!

But what do I know - I'm just a Marekting Genius(!)

[iguana]

FourWheelDrift said:

I think instead of tobbaco advertising the teams should look at the suppliers to the tobacco industry. Who supplies the paper for the cigs, boxes etc.. That way they can be involved but not fall foul of the ban. Just an idea

Aha this brings me to my question on the biker banter forum

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=62771&f=74&h=0

So is that how Rizla are exempt, as its not a cigarette as such??

[FourWheelDrift]

steviebee said:

FourWheelDrift said: v8thunder said: I thought Tyrrel was bought by Jackie Stewart as his own team, then bought again by Ford and rebranded Jaguar. I think Stewart started a completely new team using the space in the grid vacated by any of the teams which left Forti/Lola/Lotus. Tyrrell were bought out by BAR during 1998 and they had to gain signatures from all of the other teams to allow them to rename from Tyrrell to BAR. It was BAR who bought Tyrrell.

That's what I said.

[eric mc]

Ken Tyrrell sold his team to British American Tobacco which renamed the team British American Racing.

Stewart Racing was set up from scratch from the nucleus of the Stewart Formula 3 team. It was the last totally new private (i.e non-manufacturer owned) team to enter F1 and may very well be the last one ever - which I think is a pretty apalling situation. To get into F1 now you have to buy out a defunct or existing team or grid slot.

[steviebee]

FourWheelDrift said:

That's what I said.

Sorry Four - that's what you get for speed reading under the influence! Well said anyaway!

[bluesatin]

The largest shareholder in BAT has othe lines of business that would benefit from the advertising. Some such as Purdy, Hackett, Mont Blonc or Chloe could be used. Also David Richards has had close links with various parts of BAT or previous companies so would be capable of arranging one of the Reichmont companies to be main sponsor

[daydreamer]

eric mc said:

Ken Tyrrell sold his team to British American Tobacco which renamed the team British American Racing. Stewart Racing was set up from scratch from the nucleus of the Stewart Formula 3 team. It was the last totally new private (i.e non-manufacturer owned) team to enter F1 and may very well be the last one ever - which I think is a pretty apalling situation. To get into F1 now you have to buy out a defunct or existing team or grid slot.

Agree we probably won't see the privateers again, which is bad. However, how can grid slots be so valuable on the one hand, when on the other, teams are talking about the possible need to run three cars to ensure that we have enough cars on the grid

[steviebee]

daydreamer said:

However, how can grid slots be so valuable on the one hand, when on the other, teams are talking about the possible need to run three cars to ensure that we have enough cars on the grid

I'd guess it's a question of the established teams not wanting the waters muddied in any way and thus weakening their images. You only have to go back to the early 90's to see really naff teams like Andrea Moda making a mockery of what is supposed to be a highly professional sport.

If an outfit like Manor Motorsport or Carlin were to put together a decent F1 outfit, the other teams probably wouldn't mind.

The days of mega-rich ego maniacs buying a place in F1 are long gone - rightfully and thankfully so - it's just that the manufacturers are the ones with the wedge to do it!

TVR F1 anyone?