Nissan Supercars decision not dictated by money

Nissan’s future involvement in Australia's premier Supercars motorsport series will hinge largely on whether the racing category is the right “philosophical” fit for the Japanese brand – and not governed by money.

That’s the message from Nissan Australia boss Richard Emery, who will learn in the coming days whether the Japanese parent company is interested in extending its Supercars contract beyond 2016.

Nissan will make public its future motorsport plans at the Sandown round of this year’s championship, with the team set to learn its fate before then. Contrary to some speculation, Emery insisted to motoring.com.au this week that a decision was yet to be made either way.

“There’s lots of people that think we’ve made a decision. We haven’t made a decision and that’s us and Japan,” he said.

“Nissan need to sign-off on this in the next few weeks, globally. Forget my timing pressure points, they need to do it on a global scale. That’s why the decision is quite close.

“There is scope to go either way, I’m not into predicting things so from my perspective we’ve given them all the information and all the resources they need.

“They’ve been asking the right sort of questions in terms of details and they’re really doing their homework on motorsport. Whatever their decision is at the time, it won’t be for lack of understanding, communication or homework.

Asked whether Nissan’s verdict would be based on money or budgets, Emery said: “It’s a philosophical decision and whether it fits with the brand. Once that’s made … there’s always going to be financial consideration but it’s not the reason by which their decision will be based. It’s not a financial decision.”

Nissan’s parent company has plenty to consider in its ultimate involvement in the sport. This week it was reported that the series would expand to Indonesia and Thailand next year, with further talk of re-visiting aborted plans for an additional round in Malaysia.

While Emery conceded the overseas expansion would have negligible weighting in Nissan’s considerations, he welcomed the development as a major coup for the sport.

“Certainly in terms of our interaction with the Nissan world and with Nissan globally, having our category expanding is quite strong and the moves the Thailand and Indonesia is certainly welcomed,” he said.

“Nissan is quite strong in Malaysia as well so the Malaysian business was quite encouraged by the opportunity for our cars to be running around there. It’s a positive for sure.”

All the industry discussion has so far suggested a one-year extension from Nissan due to the fact it is so close to the 2017 season, however, Emery denied this.

In the meantime, Emery said the Nissan team would hold off on future motorsport signings while admitting that there were discussions happening behind the scenes.

With Michael Caruso and Dale Wood both off-contract at the end of the season, speculation is mounting that James Courtney and Simona de Silvestro could join Nissan’s ranks in 2017. Both are believed to have visited Nissan’s state-of-the-art facility, but Emery wouldn’t be drawn on the speculation.

“The Kelly brothers have different conversations with different people,” he said. “There’s dominos that need to fall and once the decision is made I’ll sit down with Todd and Rick and say ‘here’s where you guys fit into that’.

“I think because of what’s been going on with Holden and Volvo … I have no doubt that people are talking to the Kellys and that the Kellys are talking to them based on what might happen. Which is what you’d expect.”