Yes contenders that look as though they are factory backed teams have to operate in a different environment to 'club' racers. But it may be necessary to divorce the vehicle operating team from the publicity machinery that runs in parallel to the on track operations.
The ABB backed 'e=motion' car operated by the Primetime team, as last years example, was a case where the vehicle operating team did no publicity, whilst ABB as the title sponsor ran and hosted a website and 'fed' the press. And we spent hours after the event discussing whose record speed was the most appropriate to quote.
You will recall BAR Honda have a programme that is heavily promoted for the tobacco sponsors benefit. (Call it an F1 car if you will - but it has a 'steering' rearing wing!) This event is being created just for the news and publicity coverage.
The problem often lies (probably) at the door of a PR department where a person with no passion for the subject and only a small amount of knowledge .... has to create a readable press release, website, or other promotion.
Apart from those with knowledge of Bonneville motorsport, the Carl Heap truck would probably not register away from the US shores. A great shame, but a fact of life. And if a researcher or journalist has a short time to 'find out what the fastest diesel car is' he/she will probably not find refernce to it. I do not think Carl gets an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, although it should be there.
