APRIL 7, 2005

Troubles in Australia

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation is in the news in Melbourne this week following the conviction of one of its top executives for drink-driving. The general manager of operations Jonathan Caughey lost his licence for drink-driving and, as a result, the race sponsorship from the Transport Accident Commission in under threat. It seems that the TAC is upset that the Grand Prix Corporation did not inform it of the problem. The TAC has sponsored the event since 1996, to promote its "Drink, Drive, Bloody Idiot" campaign. The TAC recently terminated a sponsorship deal with a local Australian Rules Football team when one of the players was found to have been driving over the limit. The Melbourne race may also lose some of its sponsorship because of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as the two events are chasing the same sponsors.