Incoming V8 Supercars Commission chairman Steve Horne will take time to fully understand the category before issuing changes in his new role.
Horne comes into the position made vacant by Mark Skaife at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 later this week but has indicated that he will take a measured approach to the job.
The respected former American open-wheel team owner spent the majority of his time at the Bathurst 1000 recently becoming familiarised with the teams.
V8 chief executive James Warburton and chief operating officer Shane Howard helped with the introductions however Horne is no stranger to many of the team personnel along the pitlane.
Horne was guarded about what specific issues he would need to address in the category once he takes up the reins.
“I first want to learn what the issues are,” Horne told Speedcafe.com
“It’s been surprising going through all the teams and seeing all the people in the teams that I actually know.
“I’ve been on both sides of the fence.”
Horne has taken on the role after being courted by V8 Supercar team owner and board member Brad Jones.
But the astute operator has stipulated that he does not want it to compromise his single-car Ford operation in the NZ V8 SuperTourer series.
“I will still continue to live in NZ. Nothing will change. I will still run the SuperTourer team,” Horne says.
“I made it clear to the board of Supercars that I was still going to do the SuperTourers.
“I didn’t chase this job Brad Jones, who I’ve known for a long time rang me up one Sunday night and asked if I would be interested.”
Horne says his job will be to have the ears of the paddock which will be critical for the category’s general manager of motorsport, Damien White.
“Really what I see my role as being is addressing some of the more long term issues the sport is facing.
“I’m really going to be an ombudsman. Someone who people can go to and talk to. A bit of a sounding board is really a good way to put it.”
Horne has explained that the timing of the opportunity to become involved as an administrator was right.
The former CART team owner in the US had at one point been courted as a possible board member of the open-wheel series but he rejected the advances more than 13 years ago.
“When I left CART as a team owner the organisation wanted to get me on board as an administrator but for various reasons it didn’t work.
“There was a lot going on and it just didn’t feel right.
“When this job popped up six weeks ago it was a good opportunity.
Horne is well aware of the commercial challenges the sport has faced among the teams and its diminished television contract and revenue.
“Yes it has faced some tough times. Well they’ve got the right man in the job now in James Warburton and I don’t think the sport should be too critical of itself.”
