It’s been a bleak week for Holden and Ford, who reported a combined loss of $820 million as the closure looms of their Australian manufacturing plants.
When they become importers as opposed to homegrown manufacturers in coming years, Holden and Ford’s involvement in V8 Supercars will come under the spotlight.
The manufacturers had exclusivity in the series for two decades, showcasing their respective Commodore and Falcon models before V8 Supercars adapted to the changing automotive landscape and opened its doors to other makes, such as recent additions Nissan, Volvo and AMG Mercedes-Benz.
Holden recently re-signed with leading team Triple Eight in a deal that will take the manufacturer to the end of local production, while Ford’s deal with factory team Ford Performance Racing expires at the end of this season.
As the strain of their huge financial losses and the closure of their plants approach, offering support to motorsport could become untenable.
This would be a huge blow to V8 Supercars, as so much of its fan-base is ingrained in the Holden versus Ford rivalry, though that has been diminishing with the acceptance of new manufacturers.
But Holden and Ford would be wise not to walk away from V8 Supercars once they become imported brands. After all, they’ll need to work even harder in a marketing sense without Australian manufacturing as a selling point.
Doing away with their support of V8 Supercars will only alienate their diehard fans, who bleed either red or blue and will still want to hold on to an Australian quality in the new-look brands.
It will make it that much harder to convince the Australian pubic that the Aussie spirit of Holden and Ford has been retained if they are not represented in the series, even if that doesn’t include Commodores and Falcons.
Which brings us to the cars. Ford has already announced the right-hand drive V8-powered Mustang will become the replacement for the retired Falcon as the manufacturer’s performance model.
Fitting the Mustang over the current control chassis may prove challenging for V8 Supercars, given the dilemma in ensuring parity between a two-door coupe and the current four-door sedans, though it’s not beyond the means of the series, as other touring car categories demonstrate.
For example, Ford races the Mustang in the second-tier NASCAR Nationwide series, adjusting the body shell to fit the template of the category’s technical regulations.
Holden’s parent company General Motors is tipped to retain a Commodore-type model within its range, so both manufacturers will have suitable body shells and can utilise their current V8 powerplants, which for the main have remain unchanged for 20 years.
But, ultimately, it needs the support of both manufacturers to fund the whole project. While independent teams can still run Holdens and Fords without factory support, it’s a challenging proposition and unrealistic when new manufacturers are coming in and providing factory backing.
The decision will be made from a financial perspective, but General Motors and Ford officials need to remember from where the companies gained their appeal in Australia and the importance of continuing to relate to their fan-bases.
charlie
Guest
the camaro is based on the gm holden rear wheel platform, the for mustang rear indi suspension is modified falcon rear end, the camaro saw extensive testing in australia
liquorbox_
Guest
I don't think it would make a difference to be honest. Will die hard ford and holden fans really stop supporting the brands? I don't think so
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
The problem with bringing in the BMWs and other cars is you turn the series towards more of a sportscar thing, and although I love sports cars (World Endurance Champ and Tudor Series are some of my favourite racing), I don't think it'll really work in Australia. Unfortunately.
I love the sound of V8's in the morning..
Guest
I agree its a tough sell for manufacturers. Part of the issue is that I suspect it would be a lot easier/cheaper for both GM and Chrysler to just be able to import and register modern LHD cars without conversion to RHD in the marketplace. Would make the "see them on the track sunday buy 'em on monday" an easier sell on being involved in supercars going forward. Fords RHD Mustang heads our way in 2015 so it might make their decision a lot easier as they have something to sell.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Funny that an American car (the Mustang) might be coming to Australia, when the Chevrolet SS, the brand used in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, is basically a copy of the Holden Commodore, tweaked for the North American market.
Margaret M
Guest
Ah well another V8 Race Day Come on Scott Mc Lauchlan
nordster
Guest
I like the M5 bit :) Thing with bringing any new models here is they have so far had to be hobbled to keep Ford and Holden in the mix. How long will that be viable for with those two in the state they are? Are the v8 organisers seriously going to keep on welcoming new makes but gifting "competitiveness" to the old two forever? I know thats the model of much of australian sport....contrived competition....might work for some fans, manufacturers not so much?
Margaret M
Guest
Another fading . Asking N R L.. could it BE?? . re V8's May be some knew these could be facing hard times or a different era that is why other makes were asked to join The Holden V's Ford/ - Ford V's Holden V8s . Form 1 , asking are there issues there some are aware of or may be not ,seems some changes to the Form 1 vehicles. Again like other work places Too many are going down. Sad . Life & times are difficult already to some. Thought Ask . Good luck to us all
Insomniactor
Guest
Bring in Dodge Chargers, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Shelby GT, Chevrolet Comaro Bit American I know. But would still be pretty awesome to watch. or you can bring in some more Asian and European cars like the BWM M5 for e.g.
Scott Pryde
Expert
If Holden and/or Ford leave the V8 Supercars, that will be it. The category will fade away just as the NBL has done. The V8 Supercars will struglle for crowd numbers and it will die. Nows the time for V8's to realise this and do something to keep Holden and Ford in the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well Erebus' future doesn't seem secure too. Without a title sponsor and no factory backing from Mercedes-Benz, it could be that next season to stay in the sport they may have to change their chassis.
nordster
Guest
Well the upside could be a move away from "templates" and the "control chassis" of the current series. Is the current style of series viable forever? Now both holden and ford are no longer what they once were, a good time to have other makes involved. Some excellent foresight from those running the series to have opened doors to other makes at the right time. I think u make a good point about the cars having to be adapted to suit the series. How can private teams afford this and why would ford or holden pay up to do it now? The cars that the series are based on dont sell like they used to so the commercial imperative has diminished, plus the taxpayer is not (thankfully) subsidising it any more. Time to look for some other approach imo. Loosen the regs up but maintain the V8 format? Let Nissan, volvo, mercedes go for it and stop holding them back with "parity". Its a bit mickey mouse really, to maintain ford and holdens competitiveness that they really are not going to deserve looking forward. I guess wait and see what their futures hold but i am guessing these types of large cars are not part of their unsubsidised future. The v8 series would be well advised to get ahead of the curve on this, as they've been smart enough to do so far.
Chop
Roar Guru
It would be a public relations nightmare for either Holden or Ford to abandon the V8's, both have lost much good will with their decisions to cease manufacturing here. I hope they both realise the value they get from their participation in the V8's.
turbodewd
Guest
A chinese FWD commodore vs a Mustang - will be a strange offering. Surely GMH has to put the camaro on the tarmac.