Executive Summary
- The High Court of England and Wales considered a pre-trial disclosure application in *McLaren Indy LLC & Anor v Alpa Racing USA LLC & Ors* (2025 EWHC 1825 (Comm)) concerning sponsorship contracts between Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and third parties DHL and PNC Bank.
- The Claimants sought production of sponsorship agreements to determine if contracts referenced specific IndyCar drivers, challenging Defendants’ expert evidence that sponsorships focus on teams, not individual drivers.
- The Court analyzed whether the contracts were “mentioned” under Practice Direction 57AD paragraph 21 to justify disclosure.
- The ruling found a borderline but sufficient mention of contracts in witness evidence, particularly paragraph 29 of Mr Michael Hull’s statement, CGR’s managing director.
- The Court considered procedural powers to compel Defendants to request documents from Mr Hull, a third party witness.
Sanctions Highlights
- — No sanctions implications identified in this litigation.
Emerging Risks
- Potential evidentiary risk if sponsorship contracts explicitly name drivers, undermining Defendants’ position that sponsorships relate solely to teams.
- Disclosure disputes may delay trial proceedings or complicate case management.
- Reliance on third-party witnesses for document production introduces procedural uncertainty.
Geopolitical Impact
- The case involves a US-based racing team and sponsors but is adjudicated in the UK Commercial Court.
- Highlights cross-jurisdictional commercial litigation involving US entities (Alpa Racing USA LLC, PNC Bank, DHL) and UK legal processes.
- Reflects ongoing UK court engagement with international commercial disputes, reinforcing London’s role as a global litigation hub.
Economic Intelligence
- Sponsorship contracts in high-profile motorsports like IndyCar are commercially significant, involving major corporate sponsors (PNC Bank, DHL).
- The case underscores the commercial value of driver-team relationships and sponsorship terms in sports marketing.
- Potential impact on contractual transparency and sponsor-team-driver dynamics in motorsport sponsorship agreements.
Strategic Recommendations
- Parties should carefully assess and document sponsorship contract terms regarding driver specificity to avoid evidentiary disputes.
- Legal teams should prepare for third-party document production challenges and consider early engagement with witnesses controlling key documents.
- Monitor developments in UK commercial court rulings on disclosure to anticipate procedural strategies.
- Corporations sponsoring sports teams should clarify contract language on driver vs. team focus to mitigate litigation risks.
---
**Source Notes:** *Sanctions Intelligence Digest*, [https://empyreanprotocol.com/litigation/view/www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2025/1825.html](https://empyreanprotocol.com/litigation/view/www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2025/1825.html)