Kia confirms supercar discussions

Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith has confirmed the company has commenced discussions regarding a potential entry into the Virgin Australia Supercar Championship (VASC).

Meredith told motoring.com.au that two meetings had taken place with a key supercar team.

The Korean brand is expected to launch a high-powered rear-wheel drive sports sedan into the Australian market in the third quarter of 2017. That car, still the subject of a gag order from Kia head office after execs revealed its local trajectory earlier this year, is likely to be marketed under the name Stinger GT.

Although initially tipped to be a V8, it's now likely the car will feature an alternative powerplant. The powerplant is in line with changes to Australia's premier domestic racing series that come into effect in time for the 2018 series.

The large sedan has been dubbed ‘Kia’s Commodore fighter’.

Meredith would not confirm the identity of the team or individuals involved in the VASC discussions. motoring.com.au believes however that the Gary Rogers Motorsport (GRM)operation is the likely potential partner.

Kia would in effect replace Volvo as GRM’s entry.

“I have two talks with one group,” Meredith told motoring.com.au

“And [but] I’ve told them ‘we can’t give you any info until well into next year’,” Meredith continued, referencing Kia head office’s instructions re the new car.

Meredith has suggested Kia will seek to carve a more sportier niche for itself as new products on its wish-list, including a pukka hot hatch, hit the marketplace in 2017 and beyond.

This sportier persona will help separate the brand from its larger stablemate, Hyundai.

“If you ask me would we be interested in racing – the answer right now is no. Is something we will look to in the future, [the answer is] probably yes,” Meredith told motoring.com.au

“Depending on our growth, depending on the avenue we take with our [sportier] product as it comes through in the next few years… We’d have to take a look,” the Kia Australia boss stated.

Kia has raced in a number of minor categories including Pirelli World Challenge (pictured) in the USA. The brand has also been linked to a NASCAR entry.

The Stinger GT’s countdown to release locally in late 2017 starts ticking in earnest at January’s Detroit Motor Show, when the production version of the car is expected to debut.

That public airing of the car would allow a timeline, that while tight, could see a Kia on the VASC grid in 2018.