CODE
THE sleeping giant of Australian sport yesterday unveiled a brave new plan to take on AFL and rugby league as one of the nation's sporting heavyweights.
In arguably the biggest shake-up in the 12-year history of V8 Supercars, acting chief executive Tony Cochrane yesterday declared the sport would be bigger than rugby league in three years.
He said the category would be open to manufacturers such as Nissan and Toyota, taking the focus off the rivalry between Holden and Ford.
In a blow to Holden, the red team's favourite son Mark Skaife will lead the charge to have other manufacturers join in, with the V8 legend appointed as the head of the "car of the future" program.
Following an extraordinary team owners meeting on the Gold Coast last week, Cochrane yesterday outlined the historic shake-up, which includes:
• Skaife to talk to "as many manufacturers as possible" in a bid to expand the competition beyond Ford and Holden by 2012.
• Moves to split the racing calendar into two phases next year, with a mid-year break from July to September. This would avoid clashes with AFL and NRL finals.
• Cutting costs. Team owners last week agreed to target 14 items for "cost reduction".
• A new chief executive. V8 Supercars is on the lookout to replace Cameron Levick, who quit suddenly. Cochrane promised a restructure before the new boss was appointed for next year.
• A plan to extend racing from 15 to 17 competition rounds, including more international events.
• A review of the technical department of V8 Supercars.
Cochrane revealed former Holden Racing Team driver and owner Skaife had already held talks with rival manufacturers.
"It is Mark Skaife's primary responsibility," Cochrane said.
"He has already spoken to some manufacturers and he intends to have follow-up meetings with some. We want to be really inclusive in this process.
"We are quite happy to talk to any manufacturer about joining the series. We want to continue our long and healthy relationship with both Ford and Holden and we want to retain them but also want a new- look series for 2012.
"Both those manufacturers (Holden and Ford) have encouraged us to get other manufacturers involved.
"Whether there are three manufacturers or 14 manufacturers in the series in 2012, I don't mind. We have a very open mind and I made a joke the other day saying I'm glad to have Rolls-Royce."
Cochrane said V8 Supercars would overtake rugby league as No.1 sport in NSW in three years.
"I am not silly enough to think we can overtake AFL as the country's most popular sport," Cochrane said. "But I think we can outrank rugby league when the next TV rights deal is done in three years. We have already gone past rugby union, they don't figure."
In arguably the biggest shake-up in the 12-year history of V8 Supercars, acting chief executive Tony Cochrane yesterday declared the sport would be bigger than rugby league in three years.
He said the category would be open to manufacturers such as Nissan and Toyota, taking the focus off the rivalry between Holden and Ford.
In a blow to Holden, the red team's favourite son Mark Skaife will lead the charge to have other manufacturers join in, with the V8 legend appointed as the head of the "car of the future" program.
Following an extraordinary team owners meeting on the Gold Coast last week, Cochrane yesterday outlined the historic shake-up, which includes:
• Skaife to talk to "as many manufacturers as possible" in a bid to expand the competition beyond Ford and Holden by 2012.
• Moves to split the racing calendar into two phases next year, with a mid-year break from July to September. This would avoid clashes with AFL and NRL finals.
• Cutting costs. Team owners last week agreed to target 14 items for "cost reduction".
• A new chief executive. V8 Supercars is on the lookout to replace Cameron Levick, who quit suddenly. Cochrane promised a restructure before the new boss was appointed for next year.
• A plan to extend racing from 15 to 17 competition rounds, including more international events.
• A review of the technical department of V8 Supercars.
Cochrane revealed former Holden Racing Team driver and owner Skaife had already held talks with rival manufacturers.
"It is Mark Skaife's primary responsibility," Cochrane said.
"He has already spoken to some manufacturers and he intends to have follow-up meetings with some. We want to be really inclusive in this process.
"We are quite happy to talk to any manufacturer about joining the series. We want to continue our long and healthy relationship with both Ford and Holden and we want to retain them but also want a new- look series for 2012.
"Both those manufacturers (Holden and Ford) have encouraged us to get other manufacturers involved.
"Whether there are three manufacturers or 14 manufacturers in the series in 2012, I don't mind. We have a very open mind and I made a joke the other day saying I'm glad to have Rolls-Royce."
Cochrane said V8 Supercars would overtake rugby league as No.1 sport in NSW in three years.
"I am not silly enough to think we can overtake AFL as the country's most popular sport," Cochrane said. "But I think we can outrank rugby league when the next TV rights deal is done in three years. We have already gone past rugby union, they don't figure."
Well it has been on the cards for some time but no one knew when it would be announced. What are we to expect with new manufactures in the Supercar format and will they allow the Toyota/Nissian Quad cam V8 motors in?
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