No money from Ford but censure for WPS.

Not the most shy and retiring of team bosses, WPS Racing owner Craig Gore criticized officials for censuring his team over the display of windscreen signage proclaiming that the two Wright Patton Shakespeare-supported cars carried 'No Money from Ford' at the Tasmanian round of the V8 Supercar Series.

Race stewards ordered Car 23, driven by David Besnard, and Car 48, driven by Owen Kelly, into the pits on the first lap of the morning warm up session to remove or cover the No Money from Ford signs.

According to the team the officials purported to act under rule B6.5.4 Conduct Prejudicial, which effectively governs the matter of bringing the sport into disrepute.

WPS Racing complied with the direction of the officials and then, through a request for incident review, sought clarification from stewards as to the nature of the rule breach.

The team was advised by the stewards 'that the Race Director was instructed to display the black flag and to remove or cover the signwritten material.'

An informal meeting with the stewards was held prior to race two, with stewards advising WPS Racing that they made the call to black flag both cars on grounds that included there was 'potential to bring the sport into disrepute.'

"I find it incredulous that we are unable to get complete reasons as to how we have allegedly brought the sport into disrepute," said Gore. "Also, something with the 'potential' to bring the sport into disrepute is not covered in the rules.

"I'm disgusted that they deemed our actions as being offensive. Who is it offending? It's stating the truth. I want to know who made the call and if there was any pressure from anyone.

"What they did to us today brings the sport into disrepute more than our statement. They aren't allowing the public to know the truth."

The signage was placed on the cars on Sunday morning to clarify that WPS Racing was not a factory-supported team.

WPS Racing had previously been talking to Ford about sponsorship support.

Gore said that there were a number of very serious matters that emerged during sponsorship negotiations and he was reviewing his legal options.