NO STANDALONE ARG SERIES

No Standalone ARG series – Photo: Supplied

DESPITE ITS voracious consumption of individual race categories, the Australian Racing Group insists it has no plan to assemble them all into its own new racing series.

By BRUCE NEWTON

ARG was only established in mid-2018 but has already assumed management rights of TCR, S5000, Touring Car Masters and is in negotiation to take over the TA2 V8 silhouette series.

It has also acquired the rights to TCR in New Zealand and has become an equal partner in the Bathurst 6 Hour event alongside the Bathurst Regional Council.

And as reported in Auto Action 1767 it will consider a bid for the Supercars championship if appropriate.

The categories ARG now manages means it has representation on all three major schedules that run on the Australian circuit racing calendar; the Supercars championship, the Shannons Nationals and the Australian Motor Racing Series.

TCR is now also confirmed for the 2020 Australian Formula One Grand Prix meeting at Albert Park and ARG, with CAMS, is bidding for the rights to the fifth Bathurst date against Supercars.

But ARG managing director Matt Braid insists a new racing series combining its racing assets is not on the agenda.

“That’s certainly possible but that’s not what we are aiming for,” he told Auto Action. “Our view is to maximise the best opportunities for every category we have in our portfolio. We could say let’s bundle everything up in one direction, but what works for TCM might not work for TCR S5000 and so on.

“First and foremost it’s where do the categories sit best from an entrants points of view, media and broadcast point of view and commercial point of view.

“That will lead that decision, so at this stage there is no intention to bundle categories up into one.”

Braid said ARG saw itself as a category manager, preferring to work with series promoters to place its events where appropriate.

He also indicated more categories were in the target sights of ARG for acquisition.

“I don’t think there is a target number to be frank,” he said. “I think the key thing we are looking at is categories which we think can be successful, categories which are popular with fans or can produce an entertainment factor … and the market relevance and international nature of the category.

“There are certain categories that won’t fit that criteria and we won’t look at them.

“We are not trying to collect a dozen categories from here, it’s really about structure and how opportunities integrate. That will be the basis of the decision.

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