World news – AU – What does Bathurst look like after Holden: Will Kia Stinger, Toyota Supra and Nissan 400Z join Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro?

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Holden’s death led to the disappearance of many things – from the Commodore’s nameplate to the iconic Lion badge And now that the calendar turns to October, thoughts naturally turn to the Bathurst 1000, which raises the question; what happens to The Great Race without Holden?

Well, the minds of Supercars Australia (the sport’s governing body) have been actively working since General Motors (GM) made the decision in February This week they unveiled their solution, a new rule pack, dubbed «  Gen 3,  » which was designed to make racing more exciting, cars cheaper to build, and more manufacturers to get into racing. sport to replace Holden, Nissan and Volvo, who have all come and gone this decade

Supercar did not reveal the full technical specifications of the cars, but gave a very clear indication of what to expect In simple terms, V8 engines remain, downforce will be reduced by 200 kg, weight will be reduced by 100 kg and the cars will be both 100 mm wider and lower

Additionally, despite the postponed engines, Supercars claims the chassis will be ‘hybrid ready’ in an attempt to make the sport more sustainable amid the looming wave of electrified vehicles in showrooms during the next decade

Gen 3 rules are expected to be introduced in time for the 2022 season, which means another year of current Ford Mustang and Holden ZB Commodore racing

Importantly, Supercars also ensured that the cars looked more like their on-road counterparts, after the controversial appearance of the current Ford Mustang The hood, doors, roof, glass road and race cars all need to be the same size by Gen 3 rules

« The Gen3 project will support the longevity of Supercars by increasing their relevance to our fans and partners, reducing operating costs and making racing even more fierce, » said Supercars CEO Sean Seamer. p>

« The cars will have a lot less downforce than the current car, which will make the race more spectacular and make the driver more confident »

A crucial new element of the Gen 3 rules is the Supercars’ plan for a “white label” V8 engine which he hopes will help lower the cost of entry for new manufacturers

So will these new regulations open the sport up to new brands? Supercars have been known to have been open to expanding the Ford / Holden rivalry for more than a decade, with Toyota, Kia, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all reportedly targeted multiple times – but, so far, without success

The key change for Gen 3 is the cost reduction Supercars hopes to lower the barrier to entry for new brands In fact, the sport is believed to no longer seek out factory-backed teams, but aim rather car manufacturers to give permission to use their models for racing versions

Supercars want to attract ‘hero models’, so the most likely targets will be the Kia Stinger, Toyota Supra and the upcoming Nissan ‘400Z’ (based on the recently revealed Z Proto) So far none of these companies have not publicly or privately shown a serious interest in joining the sport, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come if the right deal can be struck

It should be noted that Toyota has deliberately not ruled out signing up, amid its recent surge of exciting models and its high-performance Gazoo Racing brand, although that is far from a commitment either.

In the meantime, Supercars has already secured a replacement for GM’s Holden brand… and it’s GM’s Chevrolet brand. The Sport has secured the intellectual property rights for the Chevrolet Camaro and preparations are already well underway for turning the American pony car into a racing car in time for the 2022 season

While this may seem unusual, given that the Camaro is no longer on sale in Australia and therefore of no interest to Australian buyers, GM Australia believes it can help launch the Chevrolet brand and its famous badge ` «  bow tie  » in the local market, as part of the deployment of GM specialist vehicles

GMSV will sell both the Chevrolet Corvette and the Silverado 1500 at first, with more Chevrolet products also likely on the track Kristian Aquilina, acting managing director of General Motors Australia, who oversaw Holden’s later years in Supercars, believes it is important for the American brand to remain involved in the local racing scene after Holden’s departure

« The Camaro ZL1 Supercar will no doubt attract passion and excitement and feature the Chevy bow tie that is an integral part of our new GM Specialty Vehicles business in Australia and New Zealand, » he said. Explain

It should also be noted that Chevrolet has given no indication that the Camaro will be maintained after 2023, so it is likely that it could face a relatively short life as an Australian race car

However, the deal with GMSV also opens the door for other GM products to take its place in the future.For example, our recent reports suggest that Cadillac could enter the Australian market with the GT5-V sports sedan Blackwing, which would make an ideal track replacement for the Camaro

With the confirmation of the competition, at least one brand, Ford Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to the sport with the Mustang

As Andrew Birkic, CEO of Ford Australia said: “We have said before that Ford Performance exists to win races and series that matter, and the development of the Gen 3 rules is an opportunity to ensure that Australian fans continue to series of world-class Supercars that provide the spectacle and intense competition that made it worth winning and ultimately fun to watch « 

Bathurst fans can therefore rest assured that the future of the race is secure for the time being

Championship Supercars, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Motorsport, Bathurst 1000, Holden, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Scott McLaughlin