New GM Homologation Team

[stevo qld]

Chev lead the pickup truck market.
Is that a reason to stay racing?

Looking over sales figures for the 2024 calendar year, General Motors sold 3,862 units of the Chevy Silverado in the Australian market. That number includes sales for both the light-duty 1500 and HD models. The Silverado narrowly edged out Ram, which sold 3,852 units during the same period.

Apparently, there were 62,593 Ford Rangers sold in 2024.

I know the Silverado is bigger but a lot of money goes to the convertor, which also pushes other brands and has an association with Toyota in Supercars.

That's not a lot of GM sales, so NO I don't think it's a good reason to stay in Supercars.

I can see that local GM are willing to continue, but if the remaining teams are dicking them around on the HT issue, that willingness will be seriously strained at GM Board level and the Board have proven very quick to cut deadwood.

[djr18fan]

Seems that the GM teams themselves can't agree.
There's currently 6 Chev teams, unsure if 888 still get a vote. So they can't get 3 or 4 teams to agree per A1.5 of the Ops Manual.

https://autoaction.com.au/2025/04/02/supercars-update-trouble-at-the-gm-mill

I bet PremiAir and Team18 are in a bun fight over the role. Legal or defection threats probably have been made to postpone the announcement.

Ford's idea of re-homologating using the Dark Horse Mustang will have a few GM team rethinking who is competent to keep up the fight with both Ford and Toyota.

If nothing else GM really were blindsided by 888 defection back to Ford. Exposing that GM was happy to remain with the status quo and no plan for the future.

That was my first thought too, and they have a few teams taking their respective sides.
BJR have been suspiciously quiet in this whole ordeal, and they probably have the largest operation.

It would be interesting to see if the Dark Horse was homo'd. I'd assume every new shape would have to go through the wind tunnel from here on?
Teams will be creating thousands of CFD models within the now closest ever (wind tunnels, laser scanning, G and pitot tubes) performance window to try and get the car to have certain minute characteristics before even entering the wind tunnel.

Seperate to the above, my thoughts, does the GM HT really matter at this stage? The current Camaro is set, GM have no clear future, the Supra has to hit the set figures per the incumbent models which, as above, is tighter than ever. Whoever GM choose is just a caretaker at this stage.

I said earlier, if GM decide to stick around post-Camaro, then they can just pull the wallet out and rekindle the market to the best suited team at the time.

From a new car manufacturing company point of view, I struggle to think of any good reason GM would want to stay in Australian Supercars, or even sell cars here.

Chev lead the pickup truck market.
Is that a reason to stay racing? Going by reports, they probably get a hell of a lot more media coverage than input $$$. Suggestions of around $500k for the homologation duties isn't that rich.
They do make a nice business for Ausralia's biggest auto maker down in Clayton, who convert not only the Silverado's, but also the RAM's and Tundra's.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/chevrolet-overtakes-ram-in-australia/

And as for your earlier question, no nothing official from Ford. However by the sounds of it, Ford have a bit more of an iron fist.
It would probably be in Grove and BRT's best interest to have 888 come on board. DJR seem unphased.
Tickford maybe have a gripe with it seeing as they have successfully had that role previously, but it's irrelevent by then.

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2025-triple-eight-factory-ford-status-awaits-team-vote/

I agree. And have said it before. The GM homo team doesn't have to do much until there is a GM product change or we have Gen 4. They can develop their capability over time.
If Ford want to make changes it's up to 888 to match the others & supercars to make sure they do. Just as it's WAUs job to work on the Supra, not DJRs or 888s.

[murph_fan51]

From a new car manufacturing company point of view, I struggle to think of any good reason GM would want to stay in Australian Supercars, or even sell cars here.

It does seem odd, but GM must have a pretty good reason. What that is hasn't ever been officially made known by the manufacture.

My guess is they have a future plan to supply globally and wish to keep short term prescence in Oceania.

[AlbertM]

It has been alluded that some GM teams scuttled PremiAir's bid for HT.

https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/the-latest-on-the-second-toyota-team-sweepstakes/

[stevo qld]

Until we know the Team going to Toyota, any voting on the GMHT is problematic.

Brad Jones, who could have two votes, is very quiet on both subjects, GMHT and T change. 

[AlbertM]

Can't see why that would be. PremiAir and T18 are the favorites so they aren't switching. The prospective Toyota team is not going to care who gets the gig (they know who they are as the article suggests talks are well advanced).

I think the GM teams realise that PremiAir has nothing going for to be HT despite Dane's endorsement.

[stevo qld]

When did GM say thatT16 is a favorite?

[AlbertM]

Don't know. But T18 said they put their hand up for the job. Some media seem to think they are in with a shot.

[skaifeman]

Team18 now seemingly the favourite.

[AlbertM]

GM's fight back has quickly turned into a whimper. I suspect It fell apart when Dane couldn't poach more staff and drivers.

[Troy01505]

Premair and BJR are out for HT and chasing a switch to new manufacturers

[lukeyson]

Apparently GM is announcing the HT tomorrow?

[muz]

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2025-team-18-confirmed-general-motors-motorsport-homologation-ht-details/

This is ****ing hilarious. A team that can barely engineer a car out of the midfield, with a track record of burning drivers and blaming them for issues, not realizing the team should take some responsibility...


...is now the GM homologation team.

What a circus. RIP Chevrolet Racing.

[stevo qld]

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2025-team-18-confirmed-general-motors-motorsport-homologation-ht-details/

This is ****ing hilarious. A team that can barely engineer a car out of the midfield, with a track record of burning drivers and blaming them for issues, not realizing the team should take some responsibility...


...is now the GM homologation team.

What a circus. RIP Chevrolet Racing.

There are a few Ford fans on here that will be happy to see Team 18 get the nod for GM.

[murph_fan51]

Let's give them a chance I guess?

Surely Daffid will get swapped out at least?