V8SC: No Benz for V8Supercars

V8Supercars' tilt to get an AMG on its starting grid has been unsuccessful. An attempt to entice the Mercedes-Benz performance arm to join the Australian touring car series was killed off by Mercedes-Benz Australia officials earlier this week after consultation with AMG's head office.

motoring.com.au understands V8Supercars and an established local racing stable approached AMG and Mercedes' head office racing hierarchy in an attempt to attract the prestige brand to join the series under new Car of The Future (CoTF) regulations. The offer to AMG by the Australian 'consortium' is believed to have included an undertaking from the non-V8SC racing team to buy an established multi-car V8 operation.

For its part V8Supercars went as far down the track as scheduling technical briefings with AMG during which it was intended that a draft specification for the AMG V8Supercar's powertrain would have been nutted out. CoTF engine regulations are yet to be frozen by the series organiser.

motoring.com.au understands that the approach to Mercedes-Benz/AMG's head office by the Australian consortium was predominantly "a technical feasibility proposal" and did not initially have MBAu input.

The local team involved was Erebus Motorsport. The privately-owned operation currently races a pair of Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3s in the Australian GT Championship.

Both MBAu and V8Supercars Australia have been tight lipped on the failed bid.

V8SC's stalwart and CoTF 'architect' Mark Skaife told motoring.com.au he was unaware of the outcome of discussions between Erebus and AMG when contacted this morning.

It's believed AMG head office delivered the decision not to proceed to Erebus representatives last night.

Erebus Motorsport boss, Ryan Maddison was not able to be contacted.

MBAu told motoring.com.au approaches had been made to field AMG-powered equipment in the V8SC series but also stated no factory entry would be forthcoming.

"Yes there have been approaches in the past for Mercedes-Benz to field a factory team in V8 Supercars under the Car of The Future rules. Our position is that we will not be fielding a factory team in V8 Supercars under the Car of the Future rules," MBAu spokesman, David McCarthy told motoring.com.au.

Mr McCarthy continued: "The CoTF rules allow for the supply of an engine and technical support. We know that there have been discussions for the potential of this happening via a 'Customer Sports' program.

"[But] Mercedes-Benz has thoroughly investigated this possibility and, after serious consideration, the company has resolved that we will not be proceeding with this as it is not a 'fit' with our Australian and New Zealand brand positioning," the Benz spokesman explained.

It is not the first time V8SC has approached manufacturers directly in an effort to garner interest in the Australian-based series. Earlier this year Hyundai head office officials visited the Clipsal event in Adelaide.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) executives told motoring.com.au that they were not part of the V8SC discussions or Clipsal visit. HMCA Director of Marketing, Oliver Mann last week reiterated the brand had no plans or intention to enter the V8SC series.

Nissan will join Holden and Ford on the V8SC grid in 2013. It announced its intention to join the series in late 2011. Since then Mr Skaife and other V8 officials have consistently stated the series was close to signing new entrants.

Mr Skaife confirmed this morning that V8SC was still in discussions with other brands regarding entry to the series. When quizzed on whether discussions were with the local operations of the brands in question or head offices, he told motoring.com.au: "a combination of both."

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