• Latest
  • Trending
What the death of Holden means for Supercars

What the death of Holden means for Supercars

April 9, 2020
Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

March 2, 2021
Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

March 2, 2021
Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

March 2, 2021
MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

March 1, 2021
Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

March 1, 2021
MotoFest 2021 postponed

MotoFest 2021 postponed

March 1, 2021
Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

March 1, 2021
Formula E release CCTV footage of Evans, Lynn aeroplane crash

Formula E release CCTV footage of Evans, Lynn aeroplane crash

March 1, 2021
“We’ve got to keep chipping away”: Van Gisbergen reflects on victory streak and big title lead

“We’ve got to keep chipping away”: Van Gisbergen reflects on victory streak and big title lead

February 28, 2021
Watch: Shane van Gisbergen makes perfect start, claims second Mount Panorama win

Watch: Shane van Gisbergen makes perfect start, claims second Mount Panorama win

February 28, 2021
Watch: Shane van Gisbergen claims pole after dramatic Bathurst 500 shootout

Watch: Shane van Gisbergen claims pole after dramatic Bathurst 500 shootout

February 28, 2021
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

What the death of Holden means for Supercars

Author: Zane Shackleton

by Zane Shackleton
April 9, 2020
in Australia, News, Supercars
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

General Motors’ demise of Holden has truly come at an awkward moment in the Supercars timeframe.

Supercars were inevitably always going to stop racing with the Commodore badge. It can only be so long that a series can keep racing a car make that, essentially, went out of operation almost three years ago.

However, GM’s decision has come at an intervening period between Supercars current generation of car and the Gen-III model that is due to hit the track in 2022.

Of course, Supercars had initially delayed the introduction of the gen-III cars to 2022 with the open possibility to again postpone the series’ latest technical developments until after the 2023 season.

Now that option looks incredibly dire.

The Gen-III car is designed to accommodate a wider range of body shells, promoting the series to house more international manufacturers should they choose to enter the championship.

The current Ford Mustang GT is the closest car on offer that reflects a gen-III approach. However, the Mustang will also undergo chassis modifications under the gen-III regulations.

Roland Dane, team principal of Red Bull Holden Racing Team, has engaged in conversation with GM to draw a conclusion on where the Commodore stands in Supercars for next year.

Walkinshaw Andretti United have already confirmed their team will be seeking a different manufacturer of car to race for 2020, ditching the Commodore.

“Our team, personally, we’re not going to want to be running around in a car that isn’t sold here or doesn’t exist anymore,”

Walkinshaw told speedcafe.com who broke the news.

However, it is incredibly unlikely that all current Holden teams will want to switch to another make of car for the new season.

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.

But it leaves Supercars with two other possible alternatives. The first being to move the Gen-III regulations forth to come into effect for 2021 or to operate a ‘mixed-class’ of outdated Commodores and the (hopeful) GM alternative.

“We need to talk to all of the manufacturers, the suppliers, the teams, and the Commission,”

said Sean Seamers prior to the Adelaide 500 weekend.

“With situations like this there’s a natural reaction to want to solve it immediately, but it’s a complex ecosystem. You’ve got to be methodical. Quick, but methodical.”

Ryan Walkinshaw already deals in business with converting imported Chevrolet Camaro’s to right-hand drives for the Australian market.

If GM were to introduce any kind of ‘special vehicle’ sector, then Walkinshaw will undoubtedly play a significant role in this organisation.

Should GM’s ‘special vehicles group’ launch successfully within the year then Supercars could well and truly witness Camaro’s or Corvettes racing on the grid in 2021…with room for a handful of Commodores to fill out the grid.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

MotoFest 2021 postponed

Bringing you the latest motorsport news in New Zealand and around the world

Managing editor and publisher:
Mark Petch mark@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Matthew Hansen matt@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Alex Schultz alex@velocitynews.co.nz

Motor Racing Editor:
Zane Shackleton zane@velocitynews.co.nz

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.