Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s Holdens are without liveries in Townsville after a bungled sponsorship deal resulted in a Supreme Court injunction.
Gold Coast-based businessman Travers Beynon took action in the Brisbane Supreme Court this week to stop LDM running his corporate colours in Townsville.
The self-styled ‘playboy’ had struck a deal with the squad to promote his Freechoice tobacco retailing company across both of its cars.
Two months in the planning and allegedly worth $6 million, the deal is said to have stretched to the end of 2020.
The Freechoice branding was, however, blocked by Supercars in the lead-up to Townsville on the grounds of it promoting tobacco sales.
According to Beynon, plans were changed to run the cars in a black and gold ‘Candyman’ livery, spruiking his Playboy-esque ‘Candy Shop Mansion’ on the Gold Coast.
The sponsorship was to include eye-catching promotional activation at events, including grid girls and after race parties, and is understood to have caused friction with existing team sponsors.
LDM argued in court that its deal with Beynon had specified Freechoice branding and that the contract had to be terminated following Supercars’ ruling.
A black and gold livery had been applied to the cars last week, while team uniforms were also printed.
The gold was already removed from the cars at the circuit this morning before the injunction was handed down in Brisbane during the early afternoon.
UPDATE: LDM has issued a brief statement following the injunction, clarifying that it has not been ordered to pay back $250,000, as originally reported.
“Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport wishes to clarify the situation in relation to an agreement between the team and tobacco retailer, Free Choice Vending Australia (FCVA),” read the statement.
“Media reports to the effect that the Court ordered FCVA and/or Travers Beynon be paid back $250,000 are incorrect. No such order was made. This money continues to be held by LDM.
“LDM’s participation in this weekend’s Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 has never been in doubt and it is competing with drivers Nick Percat and Andre Heimgartner as planned.”
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