Brad Jones is confident Holden’s decision to award Triple Eight the exclusive rights to manufacture the 2018 Commodore Supercars won’t affect his operation.
Brad Jones Racing has constructed its own Commodores since the beginning of the Car of the Future era started in 2013, having previously raced Walkinshaw cars.
Announcing on Tuesday that Triple Eight has been awarded the contract to develop the next-generation Commodore, Holden Motorsport boss Simon McNamara explained that “any team will be able to run a Holden that will be prepared and manufactured by Triple Eight.”
BJR has enjoyed a successful period since it took its car building in-house, scoring more race wins than the Holden Racing Team since 2013.
Faced with a change for 2018, Jones envisages that the team will continue to construct its own cars.
The outfit already purchases components from Triple Eight for its three cars.
“I don’t think it will have an impact on us one way or another,” Jones told Speedcafe.com.
“We will still be using our own chassis and stuff. I don’t know what the fall-out of that is, but I’m not expecting to go and buy cars off anyone.
“The reason we survive is (because) we manufacture our stuff. The way I read it was that we will be buying body kit parts off them (Triple Eight).
“At the moment we buy body parts off Triple Eight and build our own cars.
“The way I interpret it is that it won’t be any different from the way it is now.”
Pleased by Holden’s commitment to the sport, Jones believes the manufacturer was always going to remain in the sport in some guise.
The former race driver also feels that Holden’s decision to switch the Holden Racing Team moniker to Triple Eight was inevitable.
“I fully expected that there would be a Holden there of sorts (in the future),” added Jones.
“Australian touring car racing wouldn’t be the same without some sort of Holden involvement.
“We will still get some support from Holden and that doesn’t look like it is going to change.
“I think that the Holden Racing Team changing hands is just a sign of the times to be honest.
“It is probably a sad day for a lot of Holden fans and they will go one way or another.
“The commercial reality is that Holden couldn’t support two teams. It is just the way of the world.”
BJR is at Winton Motor Raceway today, undertaking its second test day of the season ahead of Sydney Motorsport Park on August 26-28.
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