MOTORSPORT: Cochrane comeback – in rallycross 'Supercars'

Three years after his exit from his long-time role as supremo of V8 Supercars, Tony Cochrane is making a comeback in motor racing – in another form of Supercars.

Cochrane has been named a "special advisor" to America's Global Rallycross series, in which the stars include Ken Block and Travis Pastrana as well as two ex-Formula One drivers, American Scott Speed (the championship leader) and Brazilian Nelson Piquet Junior.

Announcing the Cochrane appointment, the Red Bull-sponsored Global Rallycross said he "brings over 40 years of expertise and success in the premier motorsport, entertainment and sporting event arenas".

"Having access to Tony's deep experience in managing one of the world's premier motorsports series [V8 Supercars] will be a great asset to the series," Global Rallycross chief executive Colin Dyne said.

"He is a true innovator, which perfectly complements the Global Rallycross series as we continue to disrupt the traditional motorsports landscape."

Since his departure from V8 Supercars in 2012 Cochrane has devoted his energies to a new business, International Entertainment Consulting (iEC), whose activities include promotion of the Rolling Stones rock band. He is also a director of the Gold Coast Suns AFL club.

Cochrane said that Global Rallycross was "fantastic racing that appeals to a much younger demographic than traditional [American] motorsport such as NASCAR". In the United States and Barbados the competitors are pitted against each other driving 'Supercars' – small production-based machines with 600-horsepower engines – and compete on short courses that combine tarmac, dirt and jumps.

"The racing is action-packed and made for television, but also brings a real excitement at these temporary circuits as well," he said.

"I can totally see why new manufacturers and teams are jumping in – its growth is going to be amazing."

Rallycross, which originated in Britain and was strong in Australia in the 1970s, has enjoyed a new boom this decade with a World Rallycross Championship now in its second year, primarily in Europe, as well as in America.

Petter Solberg, the 2003 world rally champion, is the superstar of the World RX, winning the first title last year and poised to clinch another in Argentina next month in a Citroen.

Other brands in that championship are Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Audi, while in America the badges of VW, Subaru, Ford, Hyundai, Citroen and Chevrolet are seen.

Efforts to revive rallycross in Australia this year have struggled, with Gold Coast marketer David Ridden's Extreme series not attracting the Super Lites cars he anticipated and rally great Bob Watson's plans in Victoria stalled.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) decided against sanctioning a future Australian Rallycross Championship after attracting three submissions when it called for expressions of interest.

Cochrane ran V8 Supercars from the mid-1990s until a few months after the sale of 60 per cent of that organising body to private equity company Archer Capital.

Global Rallycross said that over the past 25 years Cochrane and his partners "have produced and promoted over 400 sporting and entertainment events throughout the world, sold in excess of 25 million tickets with gross sales exceeding $2 billion and written nearly $250 million in sponsorships".

"In his role as special advisor to the [Global Rallycross] board Cochrane will provide strategic input in a variety of these areas," it said.