V8 Supercars Team HRT Has Uncertain Future After Holden’s Withdrawal
HRT Holden |
The future of Australia's "most famous motor racing team is in doubt" after Holden ended a 26-year partnership with the Holden Racing Team in a "bombshell announcement" that will see the seven-time Bathurst winner stripped of its name, according to James Phelps of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH.
DECLARING WAR: Phelps reported in a separate piece Nissan "is expected to declare war on Holden" by becoming the next car manufacturer to sign a new deal with Supercars in a "major coup" for Australian motorsport.
Holden ended months of speculation about its future in the sport by signing a new three-year deal to "continue racing two Commodores" with all-conquering team Triple Eight Race Engineering.
Holden's decision to not follow Ford and Volvo in quitting the sport will reportedly "also see Nissan ink a new deal to become the second manufacturer on the grid" in '17.
Holden is "expected to race an all new V6 Commodore" from '18 with an imported Opal Insignia tipped to "replace the famous Australian car in a rebadging exercise" that will see the car become a direct competitor of Nissan’s Altima.
A Nissan source said, "It looks as though they are going to go down the path we are on now." Nissan is "off-contract at the end of the year and have spent the last 12 months reconsidering their future in the sport" DAILY TELEGRAPH