Motorsport: Red-Blue rivalry in no danger, says V8 boss

Jamie Whincup of the Team Vodaphone team drives during first qualifying of the Clipsal 500, round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, on the Adelaide Street Circuit. Photo / Getty Images

ADELAIDE - The traditional Holden-Ford rivalry will not be killed off by V8 Supercar racing's bid to woo other manufacturers into the sport, according to its chief Tony Cochrane.

Cochrane said the new regulations for cars involved in the series from 2012 onwards - dubbed the "car of the future" project - would be released later this month.

That blueprint will clear the way for other manufacturers to break the Holden-Ford duopoly by relaxing several of the rules which currently preclude others from being part of V8 Supercar racing.

Already prestige car-maker Mercedes Benz has said it would be interested in having its cars involved in the series - though has ruled out any factory-backed environment.

But Cochrane has moved to allay fears that adding new marques would dilute arguably Australia's strongest national sporting rivalry.

"I don't see the Holden-Ford rivalry dying ... it will go on. The only difference is there might be one or two or three other manufacturers running around with them as well," Cochrane said on Saturday.

"I think it (adding new manufacturers) will just build the audience.

"The sport will gain even more relevance in the marketplace.

"Both (Ford and Holden) are supportive of the move because they don't want to, and nor should they, fund the whole grid."

Cochrane said the new regulations would involve cars with a V8 engine, authentic marques rather than non-badged, silhouette-style chassis, with a maximum build cost of A$250,000 ($314,798 ) per car.

He said several other car manufacturers had shown "genuine interest" but declined to say which his organisation had spoken with.

Cochrane said V8 Supercar racing's involvement in the Middle East and plans to hold races in Asia were helping drive other manufacturers' interest.

"They're undertaking their own feasibility studies, talking to us about our future plans," Cochrane said.

"Most manufacturers operate in a world environment and it's not lost on any of them that our new TV deal in Asia and India is a very significant deal."

Cochrane also said the championship would remain a 29-car grid beyond 2012, with no increase or decrease in the number of racing licences in the sport.

- AAP