[BTCC] BTCC 2022 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[S griffin]

Not surprised there, once again completely amateurish in their approach. I don’t know why anyone would take Rich Energy on as a sponsor

[TuteZaek]

How they can sponsor so many things without a product or any sense of professionalism for that matter is a mistery to me.
Even the link on the above tweet goes to a "site under construction" splash with a contact form, for a brand on their position that's a big no no

Where the money comes from? Is there any money?

[S griffin]

Because they only care about publicity rather than pleasing their customers. They are a complete shambles and it amazes me how they are still able to keep the company going, they seem no more than a bunch of opportunistic chancers with no idea how to run a business.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them go under soon

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Millvi

https://twitter.com/rich_energy/stat...hB6xoAZbcDbr_g

A falling out with the BSB team? Or financial issues and BTC Racing relationship in jeopardy? The latest farcical going on with Rich Energy and motorsports sponsorship.

Or - the majority of people commenting / responding no little about the actual financial agreement between the sponsor and team(s), and the truth could be something entirely different altogether.

Rich Energy's relationship with F1 was one of many deals they have been involved with in the past. That particular deal did not go well - but they have also been successful with their backing of teams / individuals in a number of other sports with no issues at all.

Of course we focus on the highest profile deal, but forget the other circa. 25 sponsorship deals in sport.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Or - the majority of people commenting / responding no little about the actual financial agreement between the sponsor and team(s), and the truth could be something entirely different altogether.

Rich Energy's relationship with F1 was one of many deals they have been involved with in the past. That particular deal did not go well - but they have also been successful with their backing of teams / individuals in a number of other sports with no issues at all.

Of course we focus on the highest profile deal, but forget the other circa. 25 sponsorship deals in sport.

Exactly so crm, but I am curious about where their money comes from. The product that they are promoting doesn't appear to be freely available (if at all), so I also question the value to them of their many 'sponsorships' too...

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Exactly so crm, but I am curious about where their money comes from. The product that they are promoting doesn't appear to be freely available (if at all), so I also question the value to them of their many 'sponsorships' too...

Absolutely - there is no issue with having curiosity over the validity of any deal. However, there are sometimes perfectly valid reasons why the parties in a sponsorship may not want all of the details to be in the public domain.

With regards to the availability of the product - yes, it does not seem to be common on store shelves. But, it is available if you know where to look.

Mail Order is the best option for the casual retail market - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rich-Energy.../dp/B08FF8XCJR

It is also available in many bars and clubs where they have a distribution deal through a wholesale route.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Exactly so crm, but I am curious about where their money comes from. The product that they are promoting doesn't appear to be freely available (if at all), so I also question the value to them of their many 'sponsorships' too...

maybe some money laundering scheme

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

maybe some money laundering scheme

Not necessarily anything as sinister as that but it wouldn't be the first time that 'ghost sponsorship' has been used to hide where the money is really coming from.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

maybe some money laundering scheme

Money laundering is the object of washing dirty money gained from nefarious means; using it for sponsorship wouldn't achieve that as once you hand over the money, you don't get it back so it doesn't serve that purpose. And yes, I appreciate that all those sponsorship contracts contain clauses that allow for the return of monies under certain circumstances, but I very much doubt that they would apply in these cases.

[redshoes]

Rich Energy is just the product name, Rich Energy as a company no longer exists. The name changed to Lighting Volt Ltd, shortly before a notice of insolvency was issued.

Company behind it now is called Rich Distribution Ltd. Director of that company is Stephen Dudman, who also happens to be director of BTC Racing.

[Millvi]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Rich Energy is just the product name, Rich Energy as a company no longer exists. The name changed to Lighting Volt Ltd, shortly before a notice of insolvency was issued.

Company behind it now is called Rich Distribution Ltd. Director of that company is Stephen Dudman, who also happens to be director of BTC Racing.

That’s very interesting is that, a whole new angle on this whole matter.

BTC cars in previous seasons were oddly devoid of sponsors weren’t they. Lots of Steve Dudman’s money funding things perhaps? Would possibly explain why Jade, who struggled raising Clio budget, is into year 2 of a BTCC season.

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Millvi

That’s very interesting is that, a whole new angle on this whole matter.

BTC cars in previous seasons were oddly devoid of sponsors weren’t they. Lots of Steve Dudman’s money funding things perhaps? Would possibly explain why Jade, who struggled raising Clio budget, is into year 2 of a BTCC season.

One of their sponsors last year, Roksoba is a company related to him too.

[Moneyseeker]

Weren't OMG (Racing) the distributor for RE, so presumably SD will now take this role and promote via his own team , as OMG did. So, as we suspected there probably wasn't actual sponsorship money from RE, for BTC.

[crmalcolm]

https://twitter.com/OMGRacingUK/stat...5UJ0imigQ&s=19

[TuteZaek]

So... What happened?

[cos]

https://www.autosport.com/tt/news/th...ship/10340653/ might help explain... or not! BTC's deal is apparently direct with the bearded one.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by cos

BTC's deal is apparently direct with the bearded one.

I suspect BTC's deal doesn't involve any actual cash payment, but Dudman acting as distributor under the Rich Distribution name. Although how that fits in with RichOMG being the global distributor is anyone's guess.

[TuteZaek]

Originally Posted by cos

https://www.autosport.com/tt/news/th...ship/10340653/ might help explain... or not! BTC's deal is apparently direct with the bearded one.

So a Team Lotus/Lotus Cars situation but with a shity IP instead

[S griffin]

It seems even having Rich Energy on the car is no guarantee of there being any proper sponsorship

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It seems even having Rich Energy on the car is no guarantee of there being any proper sponsorship

I guess that depends on what you mean by 'proper sponsorship'?

A lot of sponsorship deals have no exchange of funds between the sponsor and sponsored parties.

Rich Energy on a car simply means that someone with the rights to use the brand name has agreed a deal with the team to have the brand on the car. The specifics behind that deal can be very varied.

Compared to other 'sponsorships':

Team BMW has little to do with BMW Munich.
Silverline Subaru BMR Racing was not sponsored by Subaru.


It seems that the BTC deal is very similar to the Power Maxed Deal - in that the owner of the team also has rights as a distributor of the brand that is on the car.

[antnee]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I guess that depends on what you mean by 'proper sponsorship'?

A lot of sponsorship deals have no exchange of funds between the sponsor and sponsored parties.

Rich Energy on a car simply means that someone with the rights to use the brand name has agreed a deal with the team to have the brand on the car. The specifics behind that deal can be very varied.

Compared to other 'sponsorships':

Team BMW has little to do with BMW Munich.
Silverline Subaru BMR Racing was not sponsored by Subaru.


It seems that the BTC deal is very similar to the Power Maxed Deal - in that the owner of the team also has rights as a distributor of the brand that is on the car.

I highly doubt there are 'lots' of major deals including team naming rights that have no exchange of funds. The BMW and Subaru items you mention may not have anything to do with the 'main' corporation behind the brand, but they are connected with the businesses which operate under that brand in the UK.

Rich Energy has 50% of the side space on 3 cars, first part of the team name, main branding on the grid girls, prominent logo on Plato's race suit and the hospitality unit. That lot won't be in exchange for zero financial support.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by antnee

Rich Energy has 50% of the side space on 3 cars, first part of the team name, main branding on the grid girls, prominent logo on Plato's race suit and the hospitality unit. That lot won't be in exchange for zero financial support.

It's already established that the company 'sponsoring' BTC is owned by Mr Dudman, who also owns the team. Where is the 'financial support' coming from?

[antnee]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

It's already established that the company 'sponsoring' BTC is owned by Mr Dudman, who also owns the team. Where is the 'financial support' coming from?

From Dudman's other companies into BTC, forming part of Cook, Plato's & Edwards deals meaning their bills are lower. The £3-400k a year for a seat doesn't just go straight into the team owners pocket, there are a few things it needs to be spent on.

[Evantra]

And another one... BTC even retweeted it to highlight their wonderful sponsors!

https://twitter.com/rich_energy/stat...146233861?s=21

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Evantra

And another one... BTC even retweeted it to highlight their wonderful sponsors!

https://twitter.com/rich_energy/stat...146233861?s=21

If Mr Dudman has distribution/brand rights, it would be expected that another firm's claim to the same rights might be contested.

Thinking aloud - has Mr Storey sold 'exclusive' rights to more than one company?