Dane: Teams must dictate Supercars cost saving drive

Supercars teams must lead the way on fundamental cost saving measures but avoid destroying the sport’s DNA in the process, according to Triple Eight Race Engineering boss Roland Dane.

A range of cost saving concepts were discussed at last week’s Supercars Commission meeting as the series attempts to address methods to safeguard the sport’s viability to teams moving into the future.

The process is already underway with the championship confirming this week that twin-spring dampers will be banned from next season onwards, and the introduction of a new cost effective transaxle.

It is understood further measures could be introduced as cost saving discussions continue into next year.

Teams have made it clear that significant measures are required, as sponsorship dollars become increasingly hard to secure, with Dane admitting that banning twin-springs is not really going to have an impact on team bank balances.

However he feels that ‘a good hard look at how the championship goes racing is required’ and that teams are responsible for shaping the sport’s future.

“We need to cut our costs to suit the environment we’re in,” Dane told Speedcafe.com.

“Honestly, rules around whether we’re using twin-springs or single springs, they’re not going to ultimately make a difference to the real cost space of the championship.

“We need to talk about some far more fundamentals, which I think we will do in the coming months.

“And hopefully we’ll do it in a considered but private way amongst the people who ultimately fund the championship, which the underwriter (of) which is the teams.

“It’s up to us (the teams) to really determine our future.

“The world around us changing rapidly, and in terms of interactions between people and cars is changing very rapidly, but also the landscape commercially.

“We need to be better set up at the moment to weather any economic storms as well.

“So there are a number of very sound good reasons for having a good, hard look at the way we go racing.

“I will say that that needs to be met by the teams who are the people who are there year in, year out.”

Dane did not wish to disclose the areas which he feels need addressing but agrees with Garry Rogers Motorsport director Barry Rogers, who believes there are costs that can be saved from modifying engines.

The Triple Eight boss cites the non compulsory generic engine option the British Touring Car Championship offers as an option that could be considered.

However, he warns that Supercars must not lose sight of its DNA in making cost saving changes.

“Whether a control engine is the right thing, or whether a generic engine … And there’s people are not necessarily clear or even understand fully what they mean by this yet,” Dane added.

“There’s the BTCC model of having a generic engine, which you can use if you want to, but you don’t have to, is potentially a very good one.

“But there is plenty of work to do around it, and it’s not necessarily, again, something that’s going to give instant dividends to everyone in terms of its payback and cost saving.

“There are other areas which we’ve got to look at and that could well be something that we need to look at hard, but it needs to be done in a proper considered way.

“You don’t want it to end up destroying our very DNA.”

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