Chris
Premium
Nissan to apply for trademark of "Eau Rouge" as Spa aims to counter the move.
Nissan's luxury division of production cars, Infiniti, has submitted a trademark application for the words "Eau Rouge" to be part of the model name of their new expensive luxury prototype, the Q50. Eau Rouge also happens to be arguably the most iconic corner situated on one of the most iconic race tracks in all of motor sport, with it's impressive undulations and risks associated with it, the words 'Eau Rouge' are synonymous with all petrol heads.
The Belgian circuit's board of directors has stated they will challenge the trademark application by Nissan, with the director of the circuit, Pierre-Alain Thibaut stating that they consider the move by Nissan the very "opposite of fair play", and that they [Nissan] are essentially wanting to "steal the brand from the circuit", in a bid to commercialize their 560bhp vehicle and raise it's perceived value by legally associating it with the prestigious corner. Johan de Nysschen, the president of Infiniti, has even admitted in a lengthy interview for Motor Trend that they are pushing the usage of the words "Eau Rouge" for reasons of commercialization.
Whether or not the Spa-Francorchamps circuit board of directors will succeed in the preservation of their race track from an over-commercialized world remains to be seen.