Whincup's fight with Monster

A LEGAL battle is brewing as V8 Supercars series leader Jamie Whincup and a team owner are involved in a stoush.

A MAJOR legal battle is brewing as V8 Supercars series leader Jamie Whincup and the team owner of Triple Eight Engineering are involved in a stoush over an energy drink sponsorship deal.

Monster Energy, a division of Schweppes Australia, is taking Whincup to court in NSW to ensure the V8 Supercars series leader honours the final year of a sponsorship deal with the company.

Also caught up in the legal wrangling is Scott Pye, who campaigns a Monster Energy-sponsored VE Commodore in the V8 feeder Dunlop series for Roland Dane's Triple Eight Engineering team.

The legal proceedings launched by Monster Energy follow Triple Eight's decision to link up with energy drink rival and market leader Red Bull from next season following Vodafone's decision to withdraw its multi-million-dollar motorsport sponsorship.

Whincup has enjoyed a personal sponsorship deal with Monster since 2009, wearing the company's distinctive green and black colours on his helmet.

The company also features the three-time V8 Supercars champion heavily in its latest promotion, including the use of his image on packaging.

His contract with Monster Energy isn't due to "run dry" until the end of next year. Pye's Triple Eight VE Commodore carries the energy company's distinctive colours, as does his racing suit.

The Pye car will also feature Red Bull's distinctive livery from next season.

A spokesman for Monster Energy motorsport, Dave Ellis, confirmed to The Australian yesterday that the company was taking Whincup to court.

In a statement, Monster Energy's Australian boss, Adrian Hunter, says his company plans to take Whincup to the NSW Supreme Court to force the multiple Bathurst 1000 winner to honour the final year of his contract with the company.

"Monster Energy regards Jamie Whincup as one of Australia's great sporting figures," Hunter said in the statement.

"We have a contract with him to the end of 2013. We expect Jamie to see it out.

"Before bringing the proceeding, we (Monster Energy) suggested a live-and-let-live approach so that Jamie (Whincup) can continue to represent us and at the same time drive for Triple Eight.

"That suggestion was rejected."

A spokeswoman for Whincup declined to comment yesterday.

Triple Eight Engineering team principal Dane was overseas on an unrelated business trip and could not be reached for comment.