Supercars 2023: Chevrolet Camaro handed death sentence, GM will halt production in 2024

Supercars bosses have reacted to a ‘body blow’ to the sport’s Gen3 relaunch and spoken of what GM’s decision to halt Camaro production means for the sport’s immediate future.

Just one race weekend into the Supercars Gen3 era, the Chevrolet Camaro has already been handed a death sentence.

General Motors announced on Thursday it would halt production on the current sixth-generation American pony car from January 2024, with no news yet of a successor.

After more than six decades spent as a direct competitor to Ford’s Mustang, the Camaro name is anticipated to live on as an electric vehicle in a future Chevrolet range.

But the majestic muscle car that Shane van Gisbergen piloted to victory on the streets of Newcastle earlier this month will quickly go the same route as its Holden ZB Commodore predecessor – competing beyond its production run.

Shane van Gisbergen driver of the #97 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro

“While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story,” Chevrolet vice-president Scott Bell said in a statement.

The timing of the announcement is a body blow to Supercars, which only this month rolled out the new-look Gen3 era with Chevrolet’s flagship muscle car the Camarao standing as the direct competitor to Ford’s Mustang.

Chevrolet performance and motorsports VP Jim Campbell confirmed the current Camaro would continue to be used for racing in Supercars (until 2025), NASCAR and other affiliate motorsports.

However, Supercars must now look to the future – again.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard conceded the announcement “will have an impact on our racing product, (but) we respect and acknowledge that change is sometimes inevitable.”

“We will continue our strong partnership with GM into the future,” Howard said.

“GM has been an integral part of our heritage and has played a significant role in shaping Supercars to become what it is today, the greatest touring car category in the world.

“Ever since Bruce McPhee and Barry Mulholland famously won in a Holden Monaro at Bathurst in 1968, GM has helped shaped the careers of some of Australia’s and New Zealand’s greatest drivers, including Peter Brock, Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and most recently Shane van Gisbergen.

“For fans, the Camaro will continue to proudly represent Chevrolet Racing in the Repco Supercars Championship until at least the end of 2025.”