Fears Holden axing could impact Townsville 400

The future of the Supercars Championship remains uncertain following the axing of Holden by General Motors on the eve of the season opener and could prove costly for Townsville.

The future of the Supercars Championship remains uncertain following the axing of Holden by General Motors on the eve of the season opener and it could prove costly for Townsville.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said “information is very light” on what the decision would mean for the race made famous by the Holden versus Ford rivalry.

“My concern is what it will now mean for the Supercars,” she said.

Townsville came dangerously close to being knocked off the Supercar calendar, with the race body contemplating shortening this year’s championship due to a loss in revenue.

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Townsville City Council fought hard to secure the race, which pumps about $36 million into the city’s economy each year, promising Supercars $1.3 million in cash and in-kind support to secure a landmark five-year contract.

Last year’s Townsville 400 attracted about 135,000 visitors to stay in the city.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, pictured at Reid Park in 2016, is concerned of the impact that Holden’s axing could have on the Supercars.

Cr Hill said Holden needed to show its cards.

“(Holden) need to show us what the alternate is, Ford have made the transition with the Mustang. Holden, we need to see if there is a transition from there,” she said.

Supercars said Holden would remain on the grid in 2020 but beyond that was unclear whether the Commodores would be rebadged as another GM model or replaced altogether.

Red Bull Holden Racing Team boss Roland Dane will meet with General Motors this week following its announcement that it will close down Holden.

Dane said the axing would result in change but remained tight-lipped over what it will mean.

“You won’t see the Holden brand as a predominant brand in the Supercars in 2021,” he said.

Cr Hill, an avid motorsport fan, said she was disappointed by the news Holdens would no longer be rolling out of factories.

“I am so disappointed that the $2 billion invested by governments to keep Holden here, Holden’s turned its back on the Australian community and the way that they’ve done it,” she said.

Townsville Mechanical Services office manager Ben Hall with a Holden VESS Commodore

Townsville Mechanical Services office manager Ben Hall said GM’s decision to axe Holden came “completely out of the blue”.

He said that the business regularly worked on Holdens, undergoing performance upgrades and general services.

Originally published as Fears Holden axing could impact Townsville 400