THIRD SUPERCARS BRAND A “POSSIBILITY” IN 2022

Supercars believes it is a possibility that other brands could join the grid in 2022

Supercars says the reveal of its new Gen3 rules will enable the hunt to commence properly for additional brands to join the grid.

By BRUCE NEWTON

It hopes a third manufacturer could join the sport in 2022 alongside Chevrolet and Ford, but there is no guarantee it would happen.

“That work starts in earnest now,” Supercars senior executive and Gen3 committee member John Casey said during a media roundtable this morning.

“We will see what additional options are available.”

As announced this morning Chevrolet has been confirmed as a new entrant for the category, with the Camaro ZL1 set to debut along with Gen3 in 2022.

The Camaro will effectively replace the Holden Commodore ZB and take on a Gen3 version of the Ford Mustang that will also be developed for 2022.

Casey said he’d “like to think there was the possibility of an additional brand” on the grid in 2022.

“But at this stage I am not in a position to speculate as to whether or not that will happen,” he cautioned.

“Certainly we will start looking at that now in order to kick those conversations off.

“We needed to have something substantial. We are now in a position where our plans and our designs and our ability to describe the car is at a point where we can now go and start to have a sensible conversation and be able to describe the car in sufficient detail so that it can be considered by other brands.”

Casey struck a much more cautious note than the official press release Gen3 issued overnight that teased intellectual property agreement negotiations were already underway.

To tempt new brands Gen3 rules will dictate racing cars look much more like the road cars
they are derived from.

Supercars is also considering a category V8 that could be supplied to new manufacturers
who want to avoid the cost of an engine development program.

Gen3 strives to deliver a much cheaper package to the grid than the current car. Supercars is aiming for a sub-$350,000 price including engine – down from around $700,000 today – and a huge 30-40 per cent reduction in running costs.

Whatever transpires, Casey made it clear he was comfortable with the outcome.

“I think for 2022 I’d be quite happy with a Camaro and a Mustang,” he said.

Hyundai is one brand that has been consistently linked with a Supercars program through the years. But contacted this morning a representative said its priority in Australia was the TCR touring car category.