PAY CUTS FOR SUPERCARS STARS?

Pay cuts for Supercars stars? – Photo: LAT

The big unanswered question of the Supercars shutdown is are drivers still being paid – and, if so, at what level?

By MARK FOGARTY

Pro footballers have had to take big pay cuts amid the coronavirus crisis as their codes struggle for financial survival.

For now, Supercars and the teams seem to be in a stronger position than their AFL, NRL, etc counterparts – but for how long?

Full-time Supercars drivers are invariably independent contractors to their teams rather than employees.

They have detailed contracts outlining how and how much they’re paid, and what they are required to do – in addition to race – in the terms of their agreements.

Whether these contracts have provisions – either way – for a global pandemic restricting their and/or their team’s ability to race is the question.

Also relevant: are drivers, especially the established superstars, willing to accept pay cuts, voluntary or otherwise, to help their teams get through the crisis?

Many will argue that their inactivity is force majeure and, therefore, beyond their control.

Also, they will contend that their participation in the coming 10-week Esport series fulfils their obligations until real racing resumes.

Unlike major league football players, V8 drivers don’t have pay deals negotiated with Supercars.

AFL players, for example, have accepted an initial 50 per cent reduction of what they’re paid by their clubs in accordance with their share of the sport’s overall revenue.

Supercars drivers have no such over-arching arrangement; they and their managers negotiate their deals directly with their teams.

A leading driver manager, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained that contracts are unlikely to exclude payment in the event of a pandemic.

“I am not aware of any drivers that have been asked to take a salary reduction,” the manager said. “There is too much uncertainty still around what the season will look like for teams to make that decision at this stage, I think.

“It is unlikely that any Driver Agreements would make allowance for such an unexpected set of circumstances – it’s unprecedented.

“I would think, though, that all the drivers would be open to working with their respective teams to do whatever needs to be done to keep things going.”

Top teams are unlikely to freeze or reduce payments to drawcard drivers, whom they need to achieve results and attract sponsorship.

They would be especially reluctant to get into a pay dispute with the likes of Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds, Chaz Mostert and even star co-driver Craig Lowndes.

Good relations will be crucial for the upcoming Esport series and, more importantly, the resumption of real racing, whenever that might be.

Drivers routinely avoid talking about their fees, which range from low six figures (or even less for sponsorship-supported ‘pay’ drivers) to near seven-figure annual salaries.

Leading drivers also receive performance bonuses and personal endorsement payments.

Tickford Racing top 10 performer Lee Holdsworth was less than convincing when asked about driver pay cuts on Fox Sports’ ‘The Loud Pedal’ podcast, which he co-hosts.

“I think the fact is that we’re all in this together and we want to keep the sport going, obviously, and the teams going, so we’ll all do everything we can to help,” Holdsworth said. “And if that means that we take a hit with our pay, then I think that we’d be willing to do so if that means the sport keeps going.

“So it’s the last thing we want to do. We all need to feed our families and keep the bills going, but at the same time we need to survive, so we all need to be paid accordingly and we’re doing everything we can as drivers to keep the fans entertained, keep our sponsors entertained and give them airplay, which we’re going to do through Fox Motorsports still, Kayo and everything like that through this E series.

“So we’re putting in a lot of time ourselves, but absolutely, we’re doing everything we can to help.”

On the same podcast, Supercars supremo Sean Seamer was conciliatory towards the drivers.

“I just want to thank Lee and all the other drivers for the spirit with which they’ve embraced the E series,” Seamer said. “It is a unique thing for us to be able to do and the way that Lee and the other guys have just jumped on board and done whatever it takes to make it happen, whether they’re familiar with simulators or not, I think has been outstanding and is a testament to the attitude of our drivers and their commitment to keeping the sport going.

“So thank you to all of them and fair play.”

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