V8 Supercars eying major changes for 2017

The V8 Supercars organisation and CEO James Warburton are planning major changes for V8 Supercars in 2017 and have started discussions with the currently involved manufacturers, as well as new ones.
“What we’re working towards is a 2017 generation ‘two’ and a completely different landscape without manufacturing. So everything’s on the table and that’s why we’re talking to manufacturers at the moment, participating and non-participating,” said Warburton to v8supercars.com.au.

Ford, Holden and Toyota are stopping local manufacturing of cars in Australia, one of the main parts in the planned restructure of the V8 Supercars.

“Let’s look at the entire framework. The ethnicity of the country’s changed. We’ve got a third of the population that weren’t born here and have probably never driven a V8. So all I’m saying is we need to look at it from an overall point of view and think about what we’re doing and where we are heading,” said Warburton.

The main new areas that could be changed for 2017 are further international races, different body styles other than the current sedans, new engines and new manufacturers, with Warburton stating that ”there are no sacred cows”.

“I don’t think you’d rule anything in, or out. You’ve got to be very careful about it – the great thing about V8 Supercars is the act has been very well defined; what we’re about and the show we put on. And so you’d be reticent to mess with too much of it,” said Warburton.

Warburton also mentioned that the championship could remain on races mainly in Australia, as well as expanding to further international races or franchise the concept to other continents.

“I think we’re a little way off going down that tunnel. We’ve still got a number of things that we’re looking to achieve here,” said Warburton.