Some V8 teams and drivers will receive less "love" from Ford??

[flying finn]

Ford Boss Warns V8 Teams the Cash Race is On > http://www.theage.com.au/news/busine...943275988.html

THE fading fortunes of Ford Australia's biggest selling model, the Falcon, will have an impact on the country's biggest motorsport series, the V8 Supercars.

In coming months, some teams and drivers will receive less "love" from Ford as the company starts to measure results closely in a bid to more accurately allocate its finite marketing budget.

Ford president Tom Gorman said the company would have to start withdrawing financial support to teams and drivers to reflect the changing balance of the company's product portfolio. "We are committed to motorsport, but I'm not sure we will be committed at the same levels that we have been," he said at the Melbourne Motor Show. "We put a lot of pressure on our employees to perform. We put a lot of pressure on our suppliers to perform. We put a lot of pressure on our dealers to perform."

He said racing should be treated the same way. "Teams that don't perform are not going to be rewarded to the same level, and the same with drivers. Mr Gorman stressed that all contracts would be honoured, but that there may be some changes when contract renewal came around.

[Accelerate]

He's about two years late in making this public announcement.

Edit :
Although realistically someone has to finish last I find no fault with this stand at all. Might be the shove some need to lift their game, or get out of it altogether. Whatever the case may be.

[flying finn]

Holden Commodore is not selling well either so the same pressures will be on the Holden teams before too long.

[db120176]

If they aren't selling the big cars, it's hard to see why the factories would continue to support a niche prodect. I'm nervous putting this out there, but after the two marques complete the development / racing cycle for the VE Commodore / new Falcon, could the pressure be on to go to a Focus Vs Astra series?

[Accelerate]

I think you have to look at the total picture as to why large cars aren't selling. Life will not get cheaper, but these things generally go full circle and family sedans will once again be popular. Eventually. Then all they have to worry about is being top of mind when someone's ready to buy.

What I don't read into it however is that they will kill the whole series off as a result or poor large sedan sales. It would be a poor business decision - the backlash alone from the traditionalists won't be worth it.

[Alco]

When you look at yesterdays results it was 6 Ford and 4 Holden in the top 10. It should also be noted that all 4 Holden cars came from the one team.
Is there any talk about funding cuts at Holden? All those job cuts in SA can't be a sign of good things.

[Grimace]

Smaller cars - just look at the "CAMRY" they run in NASCAR, nothing like a Camry in size ,looks ,or anything-just a name on a sillouette, it may come to that.
Commodore has strong export numbers to survive, if ORION Falcon is not exported in strong numbers it must spell the death knell- just not enough will be sold locally to continue manufacturing in Australia.

Both Commodore and Falcon needs to sell a certain amount of vehicles each to remain viable !!!!!!!!!

What will happen when fuel takes a big price jump.(It will happen one day) sales of big cars will plummet !

The new MONDEO in WHEELS magazine might be the "right size" for the distant future if fuel sticker shock hits.

worrying times at GM and FORD !!!! This announcement is the 'thin end of the wedge".

[davester]

Falcon and Commodore may not be the same volume sellers today as they once were, but in V8 Supercar mode they will be the cars people want to see race. It's all about brand image and emotion, which is why Aussie's in mass have never embraced SuperTourers and open wheelers like they have the V8s.

You may drive a Barina or Focus, even a Tiida, but would you want to watch one race, when the alternative is fire breathing V8s? The only other series that draws any significant numbers is the WSS show...once again V8s albeit in a different form.

V8 Supercars will survive absolutely no doubt, but the teams may need to become less dependant on manufacturer support...then again one team has done very well without manufacturer support (WPSR).

[Raceonly]

Originally Posted by Grimace

Smaller cars - just look at the "CAMRY" they run in NASCAR, nothing like a Camry in size ,looks ,or anything-just a name on a sillouette, it may come to that.
Commodore has strong export numbers to survive, if ORION Falcon is not exported in strong numbers it must spell the death knell- just not enough will be sold locally to continue manufacturing in Australia.

Both Commodore and Falcon needs to sell a certain amount of vehicles each to remain viable !!!!!!!!!

What will happen when fuel takes a big price jump.(It will happen one day) sales of big cars will plummet !

The new MONDEO in WHEELS magazine might be the "right size" for the distant future if fuel sticker shock hits.

worrying times at GM and FORD !!!! This announcement is the 'thin end of the wedge".

And you don't think the V8 Supercar is the same- a silhouette formula? Apart from the roof, rear quarters, front and rear screens and the lights, the race cars share almost nothing with the race cars. Maybe- hopefully- the budget might instead go to rallying, which seems to be one direction Ford is exploring.

[Silver GT]

I think Toyota Camrys running in NASCAR shows that the racing show is not so much about big car sales and marketing its more about brand recognition. I think you will find that the Ford Fusion is not a big car either.

Ford will always support motor racing just to have its brand out there.

[mac]

Here comes rally!

[bahodie]

I'm sure the 'best touring car series in the world' won't be at all worried by this announcemnt

Although...Just for to make sure, they could always start to race real falcons and commodores. It would cost a lot less for both manufacturers, teams wouldn't stuggle, and fans would keep on turing up to the track...After all, it's all about the blue oval vs the lion...

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by flying finn

Holden Commodore is not selling well either so the same pressures will be on the Holden teams before too long.

I'm pretty sure Holden already gives performance based dollars, don't they? I remember it was another point for Ford in the "Ford vs Holden" debate that Ford had a socialist style spread of money whereas Holden gave more money to some teams.

Oops!

[stmorri]

Originally Posted by bahodie

I'm sure the 'best touring car series in the world' won't be at all worried by this announcemnt

Although...Just for to make sure, they could always start to race real falcons and commodores. It would cost a lot less for both manufacturers, teams wouldn't stuggle, and fans would keep on turing up to the track...After all, it's all about the blue oval vs the lion...

Real Falcons and Holdens?......that sounds like the upcoming Bathurst 12hr!

Did anyone see Catalyst on the ABC last Thursday? They explored the alternatives to petrol and it was interesting to note that GM will be be re-introducing electric cars within a couple of years. It sounds like advances in battery and solar technologies may be making them viable. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing for alternatives to petrol.

Also on 60 minutes the development of Dubai to become an economic powerhouse so that they are not left with nothing when the oil runs out in 15 years!

V8 Supercars can survive but I doubt if they will represent what most of us will be driving unless a viable alternative fuel becomes available in sufficient quantities.

[GTRMagic]

Just wait till Ford stops assembling here... just like the 600 men and women being punted by an apparently successful Holden Elizabeth SA plant

[Raceonly]

Originally Posted by stmorri

Real Falcons and Holdens?......that sounds like the upcoming Bathurst 12hr!

Did anyone see Catalyst on the ABC last Thursday? They explored the alternatives to petrol and it was interesting to note that GM will be be re-introducing electric cars within a couple of years. It sounds like advances in battery and solar technologies may be making them viable. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing for alternatives to petrol.

Also on 60 minutes the development of Dubai to become an economic powerhouse so that they are not left with nothing when the oil runs out in 15 years!

V8 Supercars can survive but I doubt if they will represent what most of us will be driving unless a viable alternative fuel becomes available in sufficient quantities.

Gotta love politicians. Is that the same Arnie who drives (drove) round in one of 3 hummers with high emissions and high fuel consumption??? Hypocrite. If they just drove around in cars instead of trucks (same here, but to a lesser extent) then that also would have a positive effect in a number of areas.

[db120176]

Manufactuters aren't going to invest big money into racing a car that very few people will be buying (larger cars are a dying breed, check the stats). Racing V8s in the future will only sell the brand, but not a particular model - and manufacturer's want to do both. I doubt Toyota have sold one more car due to their F1 involvement, so it's pretty much money down the toilet for them. I know other people will feel differently, but I have no particular loyalty to a big car - V8 concept. Nascar-esque control on aerodynamics, engine ability and shared componentry has created the closest touring car racing competition in the world. Supertouring failed in Australia due to an amateurish administration, by comparison with V8 Supercars. If they went to Mondeo vs Vectra, I'd still watch

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by db120176

Supertouring failed in Australia due to an amateurish administration, by comparison with V8 Supercars.

Tee hee! And who's in charge of TEGA these days? DancingKelvin

[TSR]

Originally Posted by flying finn

Holden Commodore is not selling well either so the same pressures will be on the Holden teams before too long.

The 600 people at Holden's ADL branch know all about that. I feel them.

[rallyfiend]

Perhaps rallying will be the way to go.

Especially if they can make their consumer friendly small cars sound like this new TRD Corolla rally car. Can't wait for the Ford to break cover. Roll on ARC 07!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-srW2AkzXg

[mountainstar]

In V8's like Nascar the marketing focus is more on the manufacturer itself than a particular model of car.

[Conrod Kieron]

Originally Posted by db120176

Manufactuters aren't going to invest big money into racing a car that very few people will be buying (larger cars are a dying breed, check the stats). Racing V8s in the future will only sell the brand, but not a particular model - and manufacturer's want to do both.

Its been like this for a long time. The racing version has to be a 'hero car' and in Aus, thats the FalCom's. Racing Mondeos or the Focus while Ford still have large cars won't work in Aus.

V8SC's will continue until one of these two cease to be.

[GTRMagic]

Holden is already reducing its motorsport sponsorship of individual drivers... the "Team of Champions" seems to be no more... presumably once one or two drivers conclude their loyalty deals with Ford, they too may not be being renewed....

... all the lovely barrels of cash for motorsport coming from the old days look quite extravagant when the primary product has trouble moving off the showroom floor

[mac]

Originally Posted by rallyfiend

Perhaps rallying will be the way to go.

Especially if they can make their consumer friendly small cars sound like this new TRD Corolla rally car. Can't wait for the Ford to break cover. Roll on ARC 07!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-srW2AkzXg

Have you seen the new model Corolla rally car?

Absolutely stunning race car.

[Average Punter]

Originally Posted by TSR

The 600 people at Holden's ADL branch know all about that. I feel them.

Interesting that Holden and the SA Government knew about this on Friday but "mysteriously" kept a lid on it until AFTER the Clipsal 500..........

Can't have any anti-Holden sentiment at the biggest race of the year can we???