HSV likely to depart Supercars

The Holden Special Vehicles brand is set to depart Supercars in 2018, according to HSV Managing Director Tim Jackson.

While Walkinshaw Racing and Holden Special Vehicles are separate companies operating under the Walkinshaw umbrella, the race team ran as the Mobil 1 HSV Racing Team in 2017 with prominent HSV branding following the loss of Holden factory status at the end of 2016.

However, with Walkinshaw Racing switching to the Holden ZB Commodore for next season and HSV’s 2018 product portfolio consisting of a modified Colorado ute and converted Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado, there is no longer any synergy between road and race cars.

“It’s unlikely at this stage the HSV brand will be on the car next year for that reason,” explained Jackson. “We’re no factory, it’s a different company and that’s the company that’s now got the relationship with Michael Andretti and Zak Brown and it’s in control of its own destiny.”

In October 2017 Walkinshaw Racing announced an alliance with Andretti Autosport and United Autosports, with Michael Andretti buying-in to the team and United Autosports, run by McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown, holding a minority share.

Motorsport.com reported Walkinshaw Andretti United is keen to bring a new manufacturer into Supercars, but it will continue to run the ZB Commodore in the short-term.

Walkinshaw’s ties with GM and the ability to run the Chevrolet Camaro under Supercar’s Gen2 regulations would make it the obvious choice, however, according to Holden and HSV there are currently “no plans at this point to be looking at Chevrolet race cars.”