i thought no tobacco ads for european races?
Shhhh! Don't let the Monaco-ans....Monacans...Monaco-ites...whatever...hear you lumping them in with "Europeans"!
You're right of course, but it is a bit strange: There are no borders between Monaco and France. Whereas other non European countries within Europe have strict borders (eg. Switzerland).
Monaco likes to see itself as its own world, which it pretty much is. And I'm fairly certain they are uninvolved in the EU, which would mean they can make whatever tobacco rules they wish.
If the Pope would bless a couple of F1 Ferraris on St. Peter's Plaza, could they be legally sporting the Marlboro livery? After all it is the State of the Vatican, which might also be not part of the EU. Dunno. They could certainly have the tobacco livery if Switzerland would ever drop its ban on racing and build a F1 track. Yeah right, in my dreams...
take a look Renault in Barcelona ??? Marlboro has said not to run the normal livery on the Ferrari's and Ducati's at anyEuropean race. About Renault, a lawyer advised them to drive with Mild Seven as the cigarettes of this brand aren't sold in western Europe. ''As far as we know we deal perfectly in accordance with the rules'', Bradley Lord from Renault stated. Richard Woods from the FIA: ''We noticed it as well but this is something for the EU to deal with, not for the FIA.'' PR-man Tim Bampton from Lucky Strike: ''We don't advertise in any of the EU-countries. Renault probably has their reasons for doing otherwise.'' Anyway, The EU is far from happy with what Spain is doing so there might be a little fight over that... In Monaco BTW, teams with tabacco sponsers will run their normal livery as Monte Carlo isn't part of the European Uniontake a look Renault in Sapain Image Unavailable, Please Login
Same situation with West on the McLarens (in the past years) at the USGP. Remy: Since the tragic Le Mans race in the fifties that killed over 70 people road racing is prohibited in Switzerland. There used to be a GP (Bremgarten), but not anymore. Only time trials (hill climbs for instance) are allowed. There have been supporters for a ban of that law all these years, but I think the political climate will not allow it. And even if it did, there is little room for a GP and its infra.
And before anyone asks, a "Swiss GP" was run one year--1982--but it was actually held at the Dijon circuit in France, which is not that far from Switzerland. (A bit like that "Luxembourg GP" they ran a few years ago at the Nurburgring, not to mention the "San Marino GPs" held in Italy.)
