Nissan driver Todd Kelly says the manufacturer could question its V8 Supercar future after plans to allow a controversial new fuel blend for Bathurst were thrown out.
Officials were considering allowing Nissan and fellow newcomers Mercedes to use a different blend of fuel to Holden and Ford for the endurance rounds, starting with this weekend’s Sandown 500.
Instead, after pressure from Holden and Ford teams, a mandatory number of pit stops will be introduced for all cars for the enduros, including next month’s Bathurst 1000.
Nissan had stormed to a 1-2 finish at Winton last month using the fuel, sparking suggestions from Holden’s series champion Jamie Whincup that “jungle juice” was the catalyst for Nissan’s first win since returning to the sport after 20 years.
The new manufacturers say the fuel, which has a lower ethanol blend, is the fairest way to equalise consumption which is higher than that of Holden and Ford because of their different engine types.
The incumbents say it is too potent, and gives the newcomers added power as well as fuel consumption.
Kelly, heavily involved in the building and development of Nissan’s four cars, believes pressure from Holden and Ford following the Winton win led to the decision.
And he says Nissan – and other potential manufacturers thinking about joining the sport since restrictions allowing only Holden and Ford were lifted – could now start to reconsider as they concede a 30-year research and development headstart.
“Whether we exit the sport because we can’t afford the R&D … there’ll come a time we have to make that decision,” Kelly told AAP.
“If it was put upon the new manufacturers to reach the current fuel economy and engine parity windows with their own means, it may be physically impossible to achieve that with a road car-based engine.
“We certainly don’t have the funds to go through that process and keep putting race cars on the track into the future … there’s no way our sponsors and business partners will be that patient while we run mid to late-field to go through that process either.
“It’s a pretty sticky situation where we sit right now.
“Our future is almost in the hands of the sport as to how we can make sure we can all play on an equal playing field.”
All cars will be required to make at least four pit stops during Sunday’s Sandown 500.
It is understood eight pit stops will be the mandatory minimum number for Bathurst.
Kelly admits the mandatory pit stop plan is at least an attempt to help the newcomers, but doesn’t believe it goes anywhere near far enough.
He says there will still be a 12-second disparity between Nissan and the rest of the field with mandatory pit stops at Sandown, and around 25 seconds at Bathurst.
