There’s a lot riding on next year’s introduction of the new Gen3 formula in Supercars racing. Will it deliver the promised cuts in operating costs so sorely needed by the teams? Will Supercars be able to maintain genuine power and torque parity between two very different configuration engines: the single-cam, two-valve 5.7-litre Chev versus Ford’s overhead cam, four-valve 5.4-litre V8? And will the hardcore Holden fans remain engaged with it: will they happily go along with the idea of supporting Camaros instead of Commodores?
While all this is being played out, Supercars might well find itself looking nervously over its shoulder. Because if the future of touring car racing in this country is a control tube-frame chassis based around Chev Camaro and Ford Mustang silhouettes, there is already just such a category up and running in Australia – and it’s lot less expensive than the existing Commodore-vs-Mustang Supercars formula.
The Australian Trans Am Series is only in its second year (one round of the inaugural 2020 series was held before the pandemic hit). Very quickly it’s established itself as an attractive low-cost V8 touring car-style alternative the Super2 Supercars second division. Especially for aspiring young drivers without a major financial benefactor or heavyweight corporate supporter.
Not that the category was ever intended to fill this role. Nor was it even designed with the
