Nissan Australia’s attempts to negotiate with V8 Supercars management over the proposed participation of Rick Kelly in both the Bathurst 12 Hours and the (much) more recently scheduled V8 Supercars test have failed. The debacle, which sees Kelly now mandated to a attend (at the expense of a planned second NISMO GT-R entry in the 12 hours), comes as the V8 Supercars management, clearly operating in the interests of their TV partner, placed successive barriers in the way of ‘their’ drivers looking to take part in the race.
That directly affected at least six full season Supercars drivers, none of whom will now take part in the 12 Hours.
The move though has seen a large scale fan backlash from around the world, in particular responding to the current travails of V8 Supercars that has seen a dip in grid numbers in recent years and which has major challenges ahead as the long-time stalwarts of the Championship, Ford and Holden, prepare to cease production of the Falcon and Commodore in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Today’s Statement from Nissan Motor Co. Australia Managing Director and CEO Richard Emery:
“In recent months Nissan has investigated options that would allow Rick Kelly to participate in both the V8 Super Test and Bathurst 12 Hour in February 2015,” said Emery.
“We’ve had ongoing robust discussions with James Warburton and the team at V8 Supercars. Only this week, we again met and discussed how we might be able to get Rick to complete his obligations at both events. To their credit they listened and considered the possibilities.
“We have tried our best to negotiate a solution and stand up for the NISMO Global Driver Exchange program, which saw Alex Buncombe do such a great job for us during the Pirtek Endurance Cup in the #7 Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima V8 Supercar and would have seen Rick again compete at the Bathurst 12 Hour in the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
“It is clear that under the current format for both events such an endeavour would compromise both our Bathurst 12 Hour program and our preparations for the 2015 V8 Supercar season. As such we have now informed NISMO that unfortunately Rick will be unable to participate in the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour.”
“We have high hopes for the Nissan Altima’s in the 2015 V8 Supercar Championship as we are confident that our recent competitive run will continue into the new season.
“In the meantime, we will be supporting the NISMO Athlete Global Team’s preparation for the Bathurst 12 Hour, where we hope to see the Nissan GT-R deliver a strong performance and continue a proud motorsport history in Australia for Nissan and the GT-R.”
DSC says:
As expressed in our comment piece on these pages earlier this week it should be noted that forcing a manufacturers hand in this manner is not a sensibly founded policy from V8 Supercars. Whilst the arrival of this note will be seen in some quarters as a ‘win’, it is likely to be far, far short of that in the future.
Brinksmanship such as this shows weakness not strength and places the TV company’s priorities ahead of those of the Championship’s participants. It may well be a policy that the Championship will live to regret!
