GM homologation team call coming soon

General Motors (GM) will decide its new homologation team for the post Triple Eight era before the next round in Taupo.

Following Triple Eight’s call to go to Ford, GM has been forced to scramble and find a new leader amongst the other Chevrolet teams with no obvious candidate.

Since the Sydney 500 it has emerged that PremiAir is the favourite to land the role, but Peter Xiberras’ team may not carry all the weight with GM making it clear it has a desire for a collaborative effort for all.

As the process gathers steam, Executive Director GM Motorsport Competition Eric Warren is on the ground meeting teams in Albert Park having flown from America.

He updated the time frame and suggested a decision will made as soon as the next few weeks and before the Taupo Super400 on April 11-13.

“We wanted to personally meet with them and understand capabilities and really figure out how we can lift the support in the series up a little bit,” Warren said.

“We’ll make a decision before the next race, the next week or so.

“I want to see some of the cars and some of the teams in the garage a little bit and then continue our discussions, but we have a good sense of it.

“I want to make sure we consider all of the factors involved and not make a rash decision. 

“We’re going to be in the series a while and we want to make sure we’re doing it right.”

One major and influential individual that is on GM’s side is Roland Dane.

Despite Triple Eight announcing it will end its 15-year partnership with the brand and moving to Ford, Dane is now supporting GM for its challenge ahead.

Having created Triple Eight, brought it to Australia and led it to become the most successful ever, Dane stepped away from leadership at the end of 2021 and stood down from his role as executive chairman at the end of last year.

Warren revealed Dane has been an important part of the current fact-finding mission.

To be successful in this series, there’s multiple factors (and) you have to understand Roland has obviously built a successful enterprise at Triple Eight, and understanding how to win in this series,” he said.

“It’s important in every series we’re in, we win. We care about winning. That’s why we’re in it.

“There’s a long history with Roland, so we will lean on him for advice and consulting as much as anything, and helping, whether it’s a homologation team, or helping all the teams together.

“We have different people that we trust, and whether it’s with the series, with the teams, or just knowing the business of the sport, all those elements are important.”

In addition to chasing a homologation team, GM also has its heart set on poaching a “star” driver.

Next year current champion Will Brown and teammate Broc Feeney will race for the “Blue Oval” for the first time, while 2023 champion Brodie Kostecki has done that move this year.

Former GM Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert will be in a Toyota next year, while other current and promising stars such as Cameron Waters and Matt Payne are also locked in at leading Ford teams.

If you don’t consider Triple Eight drivers, the leading Chevrolet driver in the championship is Anton De Pasquale in seventh.

Having ensured Craig Lowndes and engineer Jeromy Moore stay at GM and not Triple Eight, the brand is now chasing a “star” driver that can lead the Camaros into a new era.

“In any race series that I’m involved in, we always want best drivers we can get,” Warren said.

“I mean, that’s the nature of the sport. We’re always trying to recruit talent.”

“We’ll assess every opportunity, we have to and that’s not just drivers, but it’s technical expertise and everything else at the same time,” Managing Director of GM ANZ Jess Bala added.

“So, yes, talking about drivers is part of our bigger strategic discussion. It has to be, so we need to go through and look at what’s possible, both short term and long term.”

Image: Supplied

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