MOTORSPORT: SsangYong eyeing SuperUtes
Relaunched Korean brand in discussions to go ute racing in 2019The struggling Supercars-owned SuperUtes racing category could be boosted by the arrival of relaunched Korean brand SsangYong in 2019.
The SsangYong Musso dual-cab ute is the prospective candidate to enter the category, which has been blighted by small grids, reliability issues and big crashes in 2018.
So far only preliminary discussions have taken place between Supercars and the management of the new factory-owned local distributor of the brand, SsangYong Australia.
The brand, which has been an on-off presence in Australia since the mid-1990s, is back on sale here with a four-model range that also includes the Tivoli small car, its long-wheelbase relation the XLV and the Rexton SUV.
It has set itself the tough goal of achieving 15,000 sales per annum by 2022.
“We have been approached by Supercars and we are talking to them,” SsangYong Australia national marketing manager Mitchell Wiley told carsales.com.au.
“But it is no more than that right now. It is very early days in the brand’s return to Australia.”
Wiley acknowledged the SuperUtes series had got off to a rugged start with small grids, but he said he was encouraged by the way Supercars had approached discussions.
“They have come to us and been very honest about the situation.
“They know there are changes to be made and they are going through that process.”
SsangYong would face up to plenty of rival brands with the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton, Holden Colorado and Isuzu D-MAX all racing in 2018.
As a new automotive brand relaunching into Australia with full factory backing for the first time, SsangYong has been inundated with all sorts of sponsorship proposals.
SuperUtes is just one of many that have to be considered and even if there is a green light, the level of commitment then has to be resolved.
“We don’t know if it’s just a case of someone we have no connection to turning up to race a Musso, or whether we go to the other extreme and offer strong backing.”
One thing Supercars doesn’t have to do is educate Wiley in the positives and negatives of motorsport as a promotional tool.
His background includes a long stint with Mitsubishi Australia and its Ralliart division and more than three years activating Nissan Australia’s Supercars and motorsport involvement.
Most recently, he spent a year at Toyota Australia as the manager of events, sponsorships and promotions.
Wiley says there are some real positives to associating the SsangYong Musso with Supercars and the SuperUtes series.
“The Supercars demographic has a strong fit with the ute segment,” he said.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
