Supercars: Team Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw opens up on loss of Holden from sport
Team Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw has revealed his thoughts on Holden’s withdrawal from Supercars but says the show must go on.
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The boss of one of Supercars’ most famous long-time Holden teams says it would be “naïve” to say the loss of the iconic brand won’t have an impact on the series.
Walkinshaw Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw described this week’s announcement from General Motors that the Holden brand would cease to exist in Australia beyond the end of this year as “incredibly disappointing” for the sport and the automotive industry.
Walkinshaw’s squad has had a long and proud association with Holden as the former Holden Racing Team before it lost its factory-backing to Triple Eight at the end of 2016.
In a series where the fan base has been built on the Holden versus Ford rivalry, Walkinshaw said there was no doubt the loss of Holden would hurt.
“I think it would be naïve to say that the Holden announcement isn’t going to have an impact on the category,” Walkinshaw said.
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“I think we need to be honest with ourselves and honest with our fans that it’s disappointing and appreciate the value that Supercars has given to Holden, but also what Holden has given to Supercars.
“That’s not to say that the category is dead or any of the rubbish that I have seen thrown around … we have got the best racing show in Australia and one of the best racing categories in the world.
“(We’ve got) probably the closest racing in the world and that’s not going to change regardless of which brands adorn the front badge of any car.”
Already well-advanced in his team’s discussions with manufacturers for life after the Commodore, Walkinshaw was giving little away about what his team would be racing in 2021.
Walkinshaw has expressed interest in the past about introducing the Camaro to Supercars, but said last year it could not be considered until Supercars regulations changed so the “aesthetic integrity” of the road car would be upheld.
He said his discussions about the team’s future plans had increased in intensity since Monday’s announcement from GM and vowed to find a “sexy and attractive” new package for the fans.
“There are still a few things that need to be sorted out in Supercars land as to what that looks like with Gen 3 (regulations) and if that is going to be pulled forward. Once that is confirmed we will have a clearer picture,” Walkinshaw said.
“I have been open about the fact that we have been in discussion with multiple manufacturers for 2021 and 2022 regardless and those conversations are ongoing.
“We’ve just got to make sure that it’s the right product and it’s an exciting product for our fans as well.
“We don’t want to be running around in some sort of weird SUV body shape or anything like that. We want to be racing in something that is sexy and attractive for our fan base and our partners.”
Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer said yesterday the series was open to all options for next year, but did not want to make a “knee-jerk” reaction.
“Everything is on the table and that’s part of the process about what we are going through over the next couple of weeks,” Seamer said.
Originally published as Supercars: Team Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw opens up on loss of Holden from sport