Pastor explains brewing ‘Nascar’ controversy; AV8C permit pending, says AAP

PHILIPPINE Formula Autosport Foundation Inc. president and founder Tom Pastor (rightmost) and racecar driver Enzo Pastor (second from left) join invited VIPs during the Feb. 13 contract signing and press launch of the Asian V8 Championships at Maxims Hotel in Pasay City.TESSA Salazar

In a reaction to news reports appearing last week about the upcoming Asian V8 Championships being held in the Philippines, Nicholas W. Craw, president and CEO of Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (Accus), FIA Inc, e-mailed Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) president Gus Lagman last Wednesday (March 5).

Craw’s letter indicated, in part, that “To set the record straight: Nascar has no agreement with the Philippine Formula Autosport Foundation, Inc. (PFAFI), or with any of its principals or affiliates; The PFAFI is not authorized to use the Nascar name or marks in any manner whatsoever; Nascar has not authorized the PFAFI or anyone else to conduct any ‘Nascar-qualifying events’ in the Philippines; Nascar has no agreement, affiliation or association with any series or entity known as the ‘Asian V8 Championship Series’.”

Accus is an umbrella organization of auto racing sanctioning bodies in the United States. It is the official liaison of US sanctioning bodies to theFédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).Accus, FIA Inc has seven member clubs, including International Motor Sports Association, IndyCar and Nascar.

AAP, the only Philippine affiliate of FIA, is mandated to exercise governance over four-wheel motorsport events held in the country.

Asked for comment, PFAFI president Tom R. Pastor, the main organizer of the AV8C, told this reporter, “Yes, I got word from AAP (about Craw’s letter). So we instructed our public relations manager Stratworks to inform motorsport writers to refrain from using Nascar as affiliated to AV8C or PFAFI, which we never did use except for one or two writers out of 28 news and TV talking points. Nascar has reminded me through AAP.”

Pastor also showed to Inquirer-motioncars PFAFI’s letter addressed to Lagman, which read, in part:

“We are sorry that unexpected circumstances arose, calling our attention, regarding the aforesaid project’s media partners’ mistake on mentioning the word ‘Nascar’ without the tag: ‘Late Model’, in one of the many press releases and net media publications.

“As soon as these unfavorable developments surfaced, we immediately communicated with the newsprint writer through our PR and Media partners, Stratworks’ head, Anthony Roxas.

“While we express our deepest apologies regarding the improper mentioning of the word stand-alone ‘Nascar,’ instead of using the ‘Late Model Nascar’ in the ‘Asian V8 Championship’ entitlements, and PFAFI’s contracted people’s names: instead of Ed Cox of Team Orion from the US Nascar East Coast and Alan Vessiere of Team Scorpio, stationed and working directly with the US Nascar, West Coast and the Euro Nascar, and for any other names, racing teams which are indeed, running in a sanctioned series of Nascar. There was no intention to mislead, and PFAFI was not solely at fault, as the failure of its incomplete wording was due to the writer’s carelessness or ignorance.

“Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience these all had caused AAP and the rest of the ASN and its affiliates, even as we ourselves are likewise disturbed and dismayed (by these) unfortunate developments.

“Although it is quite as hard to completely control our media (in) this part of the world, with this in mind, we will be vigilant and guard our media and PR partners from now on, from using the word ‘Nascar’ not just stand alone, but always with the tag line ‘Late-Model Nascar’ in this aforesaid project.”

Pastor told Inquirer Motoring-motioncars: “I have addressed the letter of Mr. Nicolas W. Craw, paragraph per paragraph, which can help everyone in the industry to clarify our stand, as the organizer and a Filipino representing our country.”

Here’s Pastor’s point-by-point explanation on Craw’s letter:

Craw: I’m contacting you (Lagman of the AAP) because some individuals in the Philippines are putting out stories seriously misrepresenting a relationship or involvement with Nascar, one of our Accus member clubs. This damages our reputation, when the facts become clear, as well as that of the Philippines ASN. Needless to say, we would never organize a series in your ASN’s territory without your consent and involvement.

Pastor: PFAFI applied for AAP sanctioning on the Philippine National Touring prior to the start of the Asian V8 Championship using the late-model Nascar race cars.

Craw: To set the record straight: Nascar has no agreement with PFAFI or with any of its principals or affiliates.

Pastor: PFAFI does not have any agreement with Nascar, but we have entered into an agreement with two of the racing teams which are running a Nascar-sanctioned race series.

Craw: PFAFI is not authorized to use the Nascar name or marks in any manner whatsoever.

Pastor: We do not intend to use the Nascar logo or trademark. We will use only our own late-model Nascar racecars, the Asian V8 Championship logo and trademark.

Craw: Nascar has not authorized PFAFI or anyone else to conduct any “Nascar-qualifying events” in the Philippines.

Pastor: PFAFI took the initiative to import eight late-model V8 Nascar cars to conduct our very own qualifying events.

Craw: Nascar has no agreement, affiliation or association with any series or entity known as the “Asian V8 Championship Series”.

Pastor: (That is) true.

Craw: Since this misinformation has the potential to mislead and, thereby, cause harm to your drivers, organizers and tracks, I would appreciate it if you could publicize this information throughout your ASN to those who could be affected.

Pastor: Although it might be hard for PFAFI and our PR and media partners (to) correct the mistakes of one writer who (had) omitted the tag line “late model” and wrote just the stand alone “Nascar,” we will be vigilant from now on in order to prevent (mistakes from happening that may affect any concerned party(ies))

AAP statement

Lagman revealed in a statement: “PFAFI, headed by its president and CEO Tomas Pastor, has a pending application with AAP for club affiliation and sanction for a ‘National’ status motor sport event with foreign participation, but the AAP Motor Sport Committee chaired by Mandy Eduque is still carefully reviewing and assessing said application.”

Lagman added: “The officials of PFAFI, the organizer and promoter of the proposed Asian V8 Championship, claimed, during preliminary consultations with AAP, that they have formed a partnership with Nascar racing teams and that the overall winner of the proposed 3-round Asian V8 Championship will be sent and will get to race in one of the sanctioned events of the Nascar Series in the United States.

“PFAFI officials also claimed that technical assistance with the Nascar late-model race cars purchased by PFAFI was part of the partnership with Nascar.

“AAP clearly states that it has not yet granted club affiliation and sanction to the proposed Asian V8 Championship requested by its organizer and promoter PFAFI.”