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Nissan is planning to hit the locals where it hurts, at Bathurst and V8 Supercars series, from 2013. (Pic: Mark Horsburgh)
Nissan will join Ford and Holden on the V8 Supercar circuit as a third player.
JAPANESE carmaker Nissan is launching a $15 million attack on Australia's heartland brands, Ford and Holden. The aggressive importer is planning to hit the locals where it hurts, at Bathurst and in the V8 Supercars championship series, from 2013.
As the two local brands fight for the survival of their carmaking operations they must now face the first full-scale import attack in motorsport for 20 years and the potential opening of the floodgates to other brands including Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and even Jaguar.
The catalyst for the change is new rules for 2013 that break down the barrier to brands other than Ford and Holden, who have had the V8 Supercars field to themselves since 1993.
Nissan's attack renews the commitment by a company with proven motorsport success in Australia following two Bathurst 1000 wins in 1991 and 1992 and three touring car titles in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
"This is the biggest change in Australian motorsport in 20 years. It's huge," says Mark Skaife, the architect of the Car of the Future regulations which have sparked Nissan's involvement. "My promise was there would be one extra brand in 2013 and probably two or three in 2014. We're on track for that."
Ironically, Skaife was the Nissan spearhead when the company was last involved before switching to Holden, and he now sees a huge change in the motoring landscape.
"This is the spark to re-energise the local industry. And they do need a big kick. This is the sport of the motor industry, and it makes absolute sense to be talking about winning Bathurst and not the AFL grand final," he said.
Nissan's commitment will tie the company to Kelly Racing for a four-car assault using Nissan engines and the body of a car yet to reach showrooms. It is also planning a massive promotional campaign.
The factory team's frontline drivers are Rick and Todd Kelly, who have championship and Bathurst wins as drivers, and they also have one of the best-funded program in V8 Supercars thanks to sponsorship from Jack Daniel's and their business manager - and former Holden Special Vehicles boss - John Crennan.
The official announcement of Nissan's plan was made in Melbourne at 11am today and Skaife is upbeat about the involvement, while hosing-down fears of the sort of domination that came when the company raced its 'Godzilla' Skyline GT-R.
"This needs to be looked at both on and off-track. On-track V8 Supercars has told Nissan that we will make the same commitment to them as Ford and Holden. We'll build their prototype and get it homologated and ready for racing under the Car of the Future regulations," he said.
"But they cannot dominate like they did with the Godzilla car. We want them to be competitive and challenging to win races, but they cannot dominate. Off-track, Nissan will want to heavily activate their involvement in motorsport. That will make the pie bigger with the spending in and around our business, and I think it will also re-energise the Ford and Holden programs. When they see what Nissan is doing they will have to be more aggressive and more like they were in the past. People who think that winning on Sunday and selling on Monday is yesterday's news are kidding themsleves."
