V8 Supercars has weighed into the Adam Goodes debate, showing support for the outspoken Swans star with a tribute during the Ipswich SuperSprint.
While acknowledging that the Goodes controversy was a "divisive issue in the community", V8 racing's sanctioning body decided it should publicly declare its backing of the AFL's most prominent Indigenous player.
An image of Goodes and his No.37 jersey will be shown during the telecast of Sunday's racing at Queensland Raceway, at Willowbank near Ipswich, accompanied by a statement of support for the dual Brownlow medallist in the wake of the booing that sparked the polarising debate that has engulfed him.
The graphic was displayed during Fox Sports' live coverage of practice on Friday afternoon, appearing on screen during a minor accident stoppage as the V8 statement was read by the commentator.
"V8 Supercars would like to express its support for Adam Goodes, the 2014 Australian of the Year and a champion athlete with the Sydney Swans AFL club," says the statement, which is attributed to V8 Supercars chief executive officer James Warburton. "We realise this has been a divisive issue in the community, but we want to acknowledge Adam, who is not playing this weekend.
"As a mark of our respect, we have recreated Adam Goodes' No.37 jersey to be shown during the telecast from Queensland Raceway in Friday's practice session and Sunday's race. The thoughts of the motor sport community are with Adam Goodes and we look forward to seeing him back on the football field soon."
As well as the official V8 tribute, the dual premiership-winning Swans utility will receive support with on-car signage on one of the Nissan Motorsport entries.
From Saturday's twin 60-kilometre sprint races, Michael Caruso's Nissan Altima is due to display a banner at the top of the windscreen reading "Cheer for champs #37".
It is understood that Nissan's show of support for Goodes was initiated by the managing director of the Japanese car-maker's Australian subsidiary, Richard Emery, who is a keen AFL fan. According to Warburton, V8 Supercars felt it had a responsibility as a major national sport – and the pre-eminent category of Australian motor sport – to take a public stance on the slighted Sydney Swans star.
"We didn't have to get involved," Warburton told Fairfax Media. "It's something that we felt passionate about. We're not politicising it. We've made a statement and a show of support for Adam Goodes, and everything he is going through this weekend."
V8 Supercars senior executives –including newly appointed communications chief Nick Johnston, formerly in a similar role with the GWS Giants – decided to take the opportunity of this weekend's halfway mark of the championship to publicise its support of Goodes because there is a lot of interest in the title battle.
Defending six-time champion Jamie Whincup is struggling in his previously pacesetting Triple Eight Holden Commodore and languishes in eighth place in the series standings, trailing title leader Mark Winterbottom by 391 points – the biggest deficit he has faced since 2006.
The prospect of the first new V8 champion since 2010 – and only the second since Whincup captured his first V8 crown in 2008 – is attracting renewed attention.
Winterbottom is leading a Ford Falcon revival that is backed by his Prodrive Racing Australia teammates David Reynolds and Chaz Mostert, who are fourth and fifth respectively in the championship standings.
