Roland Dane has confirmed Triple Eight does have a new manufacturer lined up to replace the outgoing Holden Commodore for the Gen3 era of Supercars.
The team is set to see out the demise of Holden in the series with a swansong season racing the ZB Commodore in 2021 before making way for a new brand to enter the sport.
The Holden Commodore is already homologated under Supercar rules so there is essentially no reason why it cannot race in 2021, waiting out the period until 2022 when the Gen3 rules are slated to be implemented.
What that new manufacturer is remains the centre of plenty of speculation, but Dane has at least made a firm announcement that Triple Eight has already landed a deal with a new brand.
“We have another manufacturer. We know what we’re doing,” Dane told Race News.
“In due course you’ll see. I’m not going to comment at all.
“That stuff is not for us to comment.”
It has been speculated Toyota is the most likely replacement through its Lexus brand with Race News reporting Dane has made several visits to Toyota Australia, including one which involved Supercars.
Nonetheless, a deal with a new manufacturer ensures Triple Eight cements its long-term future on the Supercars grid despite the loss of Holden which has supported the team since 2017 when it received exclusive factory backing.
Next year, however, will see the team revert to its non-factory status.
Fellow Holden outfit, Walkinshaw Andretti United, has already announced they are seeking a new manufacturer for 2020, admitting it seems redundant to continue to race the Commodore which is no longer made available to the public.
Team owner Ryan Walkinshaw already deals with the newly rebranded General Motors Specialty Vehicles which imports Chevrolet Corvettes and Silverados for the Australian market.
Should GM’s ‘special vehicles group’ launch successfully within the year then Supercars could see Corvettes, or even the Camaro, racing on the grid in 2021.
However, Supercars CEO Sean Seamer has previously expressed a distasting to having rear- and mid-engine cars on the grid as it could lead to technical and parity disputes.
Gen3 is on track to be implemented in 2022 having already been postponed once before.
Being honest India”s Datsun should be on the Supercars grid which would make more of a international series which is mandatory in improving the series and developing the series
Being honest India”s Datsun should be on the Supercars grid which would make more of a international series which is mandatory in improving the series and developing the series