BAR Planning to Keep Tobacco Livery

The BAR Formula One team intend to run all season with tobacco branding despite uncertainty about their legal position after a European Union ban comes into force in August.

The team, runners-up in the Constructors' Championship last year, are 55 percent owned by British American Tobacco and 45 percent by engine partner Honda. A directive banning tobacco advertising in the European Union applies from the end of July.

However, legislation in Britain, where BAR and BAT are based, goes further and could expose the team to prosecution if the tobacco branding on their cars is broadcast back into the country even from non-EU races.

"On tobacco branding on the car, that is a complicated subject," said team boss Nick Fry at the unveiling of the Honda-powered 2005 challenger at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. "Clearly for races in the EU, we cannot advertise on the car beyond July of this year.

"The complexity is with the British government interpretation of the rules and one interpretation might be that for races outside the European Union if pictures of the car are transmitted back to the UK, then that wouldn't be allowed.

"We do not believe that the British government ever intended that," he added. "As a consequence of that, at the moment it is our intention and our belief that we can continue to advertise (outside the EU) on the car beyond July and through to the end of 2006."

No Clarification

Fry said BAR had repeatedly asked the British government for clarification of the local legislation.

"So far, they have failed to respond with a clear picture. And so the only option that we have at this moment is to continue with our interpretation of what we think they want or meant," he said.

Fry said that the continued funding of the team, founded by BAT in 1999 with substantial investment since, was not in jeopardy whatever the outcome.

"British American Tobacco's commitment to this team is absolute and so we expect continuity," he said. "The funding that comes through tobacco sponsorship and British American Tobacco's equity and funding of the team as a company are two totally separate things.

"Our funding is assured so there is no risk whatsoever to the team and the amount it takes to run."

There has been speculation that Honda, who now run the team as a joint venture with BAT, are planning ultimately to take total control should the tobacco giant quit. Shoichi Tanaka, president of Honda Racing Development, would not rule that out.

"The message that we want to deliver is that Honda will stay in Formula One and win the world championship, whatever form of construction of the shareholding," he said. "We will stay and achieve the objective and if there is no other solution than that we take 100 percent, that is quite feasible."