Toyota dismisses Supra Supercar – Image: Supplied
1 of Toyota Australia’s most senior executives has hosed down expectations the organization is taking into consideration a manufacturing facility-backed Supercars campaign following the Gen3 technical polices roll out in 2022.
By BRUCE NEWTON
While becoming formulated with a 2765mm wheelbase, Vehicle Action has also described the Gen3 system is expected to keep the alternative to flex its wheelbase, so that the overall body designs of scaled-down automobiles are not distorted much too significantly in the Supercars homologation method.
The compact Toyota Supra two-doorway sporting activities car is the vehicle persistently described as benefitting from these kinds of a system and Australia’s biggest new- motor vehicle seller proceeds to be joined through pitlane rumour with a Supercars championship marketing campaign with Triple 8 Race Engineering.
But Toyota Australia revenue and marketing and advertising chief Sean Hanley dismissed that as “total speculation and rumour”.
“It’s not something I have read of,” he explained to Automobile Motion in an unique job interview.
Toyota has been joined on and off with Supercars plans for at minimum 20 years, but has persistently opted for other categories this kind of as the Australian Rally Championship and has far more not long ago invested in the prosperous 86 a single-make collection that is a staple on the Supercars support software.
Hanley said that is where Toyota will go on to expend its motor racing funds.
“Right now our concentration is Australian rally and that is being performed by means of our guidance of the Bates family, who symbolize us as a result of Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia,” stated Hanley.
“We have the Toyota GR 86 series that will carry on by means of to the finish of 2022.
“But we really have nothing at all further more to announce regarding Toyota Australia’s motorsport endeavours at this time.”
Turning to Supercars, Hanley said he wished to be absolutely very clear, so he did not mislead or start out incorrect rumours
“There are at present no strategies all over Supra or moving into V8 Supercars underneath the new regulations at all.
“Anything you are listening to is purely speculative.”
Hanley investigated Supercars and finally turned down involvement in 2015, when he was working Toyota’s luxurious model Lexus in Australia, while he did signal up to offer assistance motor vehicles.
He said Supercars activities offer “a excellent platform” for the promotion of the 86 sports activities car and the Gazoo Racing (GR) model under which Toyota marketplaces its general performance autos and motor racing.
Hanley exposed he was not getting held up to day on the progress of the Gen3 tech regs or informed that Toyota was becoming consulted about them.
“We’re always intrigued in developments in Supercars simply because we have an lively interest in the complete function and we have an active curiosity in motorsport, but we are not right associated in insurance policies or strategies in relation to the new guidelines at all.
“But we do like to be in get hold of of class, not since we have any plans to enter at this issue but due to the fact we are generally fascinated at hunting at alternatives. That is just the suitable point to do in small business.”
Hanley was also not knowledgeable of any proposals pitched by Supercars teams to woo Toyota into a racing program.
“That’s not to say it has not transpired somewhere else at Toyota but I haven’t been included. I know I would get concerned at some place if it was a major solution.
“I am not conscious of any immediate conversations on a formal foundation all over our involvement in the Supercars with any crew on the Toyota aspect.”
Asked why Supercars teams have been unable to encourage Toyota to be a part of the championship even with decades of exertion, Hanley was diplomatic.
“We believe Supercars is a really important function for motorsport in Australia and that’s’ why we are section of it in some way,” he claimed.
“We actually adore the occasion in just about every way and we assume it appeals to the Australian viewers and it’s deeply in the Australian culture.
“In the conclusion for us it does come down to priorities, but it also receives down to product and item alignment to that occasion and product or service attractiveness past that occasion to the market.
“All of these matters we glance at.”
For extra of the hottest Supercars news pick up the current challenge of Auto Action. Also make guaranteed you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the hottest updates concerning troubles.
Date posted: September 29, 2020
