David Towe, owner of a John Player Special-liveried BMW E30 M3, has launched a petition to exempt historic motorsport from Australia's tobacco advertising laws. The move follows the forced alteration of several tobacco-branded liveries at the Muscle Car Masters event at Sydney Motorsport Park in late August.
During the event, competitors were made to cover sponsorship logos, and one Touring Car Masters race was not shown on Fox Sports' live coverage at all. The liveries in question were inspired by controversial schemes but did not feature actual tobacco sponsorship.
Changes were then made to the technical appendix of the Motorsport Australia manual, stating that each automobile must comply with the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023. The law prohibits the display, publication, or promotion of regulated tobacco products, including on any fifth-category automobile livery. Previously, competitors could race cars bearing tobacco brands if they met certain criteria.
The law was updated in 2023, but Motorsport Australia was only made aware in recent weeks, prompting the update to Schedule K of the manual. The petition aims to preserve the history of cars competing in historic events, allowing them to continue racing or be displayed in their original guise.
In his petition, Towe writes, "I am the proud owner of a historic race car, a piece of motorsport history, which was originally sponsored by a tobacco company. This car not only embodies the spirit and engineering of its time but also reflects the culture and advertising norms that were prevalent in the era it competed in."
He adds that historic motorsport is a living museum, showcasing the evolution of racing technology and sponsorship culture. "Many iconic cars, including those sponsored by tobacco companies, played a critical role in the development of motorsport, not just from a technological standpoint but from cultural and social ones as well," he says.
While acknowledging the reasoning behind the country's laws on modern-day tobacco advertising, Towe feels that the laws should not affect historic advertisements on race cars. "Current Australian laws on cigarette advertising, while crucial for modern health standards and public well-being, inadvertently overlook the significance of preserving the historical authenticity of past eras," he states.
The petition is intended to help preserve the history of cars competing in historic events, providing enthusiasts, historians, and the public with an accurate representation. As of now, there has been no official response from Motorsport Australia regarding the petition.
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