Quote:
Originally Posted by Umai Naa
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over. When drivers, teams, sponsors, and manufacturers are no longer making long-term commitments to the sport, changes need to be made.
Manufacturers are committed to GT3, GT4, and now TCR, because they are based around business strategies that do actually offer a return on investment, on a much larger scale. They're all based on production cars, so the manufacturer takes their slice of selling the car itself, and by default, wherever the car goes, it'll still carry brand recognition.
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Spot on.
There is a
open niche for 4-door performance sedans with more performance than GT4 and less than GT3, with rear wheel drive and six/eight cylinders (unlike the front wheel drive and four cylinders of TCR) -- akin to the current product but with manufacturer DNA, rather than generic control chassis that isn't enticing manufacturers.
Supercars ought to get at it, and slot their regulations into this gap.
Once it is establshed Supercars could export this set of regulations around the world?
If they play it right, the likes of Tickford and 888 could be filling 50 orders per year for export to compatible series around the globe! It would make an Aussie proud.
It might be seen (in the short term) as a retrograde step to go to production-based Giulia, Stiger or Lexus IS bodyshells and then apply BOP to the resultant racecars, but it might be just what is needed?
An actual Stinger twin-turbo or Giulia twin-turbo, with a lightly tuned production engine, and a suitable Hewland or Holinger sequential box behind it, might be the ticket to entice manufacturers?
With BOP they would be ensured both:
1) A product that is relevant to their road-going product.
2) That they will be competitive.
For engineering firms like Tickford and 888:
1) Large source of revenue from vehicles and spares.
2) Thriving business.
For competitors:
1) A capped purchase and spares price.
2) A set homologation period (say 5 years) where they know the car will be eligible and competitive... No expensive development costs involved.
Sounds attractive?