ge5216865899784393367
Bruce Newton9 Oct 2014
NEWS

Holden backs V8 Supercars to promote Commodore replacement

Winning races is a cost-effective way to launch next-generation large sedan in Australia — GM

With the biggest V8 Supercars race of the year looming at Bathurst this week, Holden has signalled the category can play an important role in the launch of its Commodore replacement -- if sedans are allowed to race in the category post-2017.

Holden ceases local manufacturing no later than the end of 2017, killing off the locally-developed Commodore which has underpinned its touring car racing efforts since 1980.

At the same time, V8 Supercars is expected to roll out the next generation of V8 Supercar regulations, possibly abandoning sedans for coupes or allowing the two body styles to race alongside each other. The future of the V8 engine is also under review.

As reported from last week’s Paris motor show, the next-generation Opel Insignia is expected to take on the role of Holden’s mainstream sedan, potentially without using the Commodore name. It has been previewed by the Monza concept (pictured) and is due to emerge in 2016.

Holden motorsport boss Simon McNamara told motoring.com.au that V8 Supercars would be a cost effective way to promote Holden’s Commodore successor.

“To me where this sport goes and what we potentially would do fits OK,” McNamara said. “It would potentially give us the chance to sex up a car pretty quickly because we have got – in my mind – the best teams in pitlane.

Holden has just renewed all-conquering Triple Eight Race Engineering (Red Bull Racing Australia) and the Holden Racing Team as its factory operations in Australia’s most important racing category for 2015-16 and McNamara believes they could deliver a winning start for a new car.

“We could potentially have overnight success with a new model and all the rest of that stuff, which gives you some cache in the marketplace without spending $150 million in the media,” McNamara said.

Intriguingly, he played down Holden interest in racing a coupe such as the next-generation Camaro, which is expected to be ‘package protected’ for right-hand drive and therefore could be sold as a direct rival for Ford's Mustang in Australia with a V8 engine — something the mainstream Commodore replacement won’t offer.

“Considering this category and what it represents, I struggle a little bit as to why you would race a two-door,” he said. “We are not Formula One, we are not GT racing with Audis and Ferraris and all the rest of it. We are trying to be your man on the streets car to a degree.

“I would personally rather talk to our people about running something that is our mainstream product.”

This clearly suggests Holden would prefer to race the Insignia, or it might want to adopt the V8 sports sedan that is being designed in North America to replace the Commodore-based SS in Chevrolet’s US line-up and is expected to be sold here, probably badged as the Holden SS.

McNamara confirmed he had been briefing V8 Supercars on Holden’s potential future plans in recent months, while the category had also shared its plans.

But he admitted there were still "too many balls in the air" to be able to give a carte blanche commitment to Holden racing in the category after it ceases production of the VF Commodore.

“We need to get our head around what our product portfolio will be, what our engine configurations will be and other operations we have got globally we will be tying into,” McNamara explained. “So we need to work out how all that works … and what the next phase for us in terms of what our flagship vehicle may or may not be and what we do.

“Our brand will change because of the nature of what the business is going to be,” he added. “We need to make sure what it (V8 Supercars) fits in with what our brand is going to become and what we plan to do with it.

“Clearly, we have to reposition ourselves slightly as we go forward and potentially significantly as we go further forward. So we are looking through that at the moment.”

Holden's factory shutdown will happen at roughly the same time as Toyota Australia's and 12 months after Ford Australia's. The Blue Oval’s factory involvement in V8 Supercars has more immediate issues facing it than Holden.

As reported by motoring.com.au last week, Ford must decide if it will renew its deal with the factory Ford Performance Racing team and/or embrace the new Roger Penske-owned DJR Team Penske operation, for which Marcos Ambrose will drive next year — or pull out.

FPR is in the early stages of homologating the FG X Falcon for 2015, while long-term the Mustang was seen as Ford’s logical V8 Supercar if the coupe rules are adopted. Alternatively, under a sedan formula, the Mondeo would be the obvious choice following the 2016 demise of the Falcon.

However, if Ford pulls out, the only guarantee is that FPR and Penske will stay in Falcons in 2015.


Graphic image: Rohan Miller

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.