V8 Supercars catch Conomos' attention

TOYOTA’S plan to seriously confront Holden and Ford in the large-car market has prompted Toyota Australia executive chairman John Conomos, a noted motorsport hater, to acknowledge the promotional power of the recent Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama.

"I could not avoid – irritated as I was – the Mount Panorama activity," he said.

"What happened at Bathurst the other weekend is probably bigger for most people than the Melbourne Cup.

"I’ve got to tell you that it is a fascinating business watching Australia turn its attention to Mount Panorama that weekend." Despite his grudging praise, Mr Conomos made it clear that Toyota had no plans to go V8 Supercar racing, despite AVESCO chief Tony Cochrane’s recent declaration that a third manufacturer could enter the category from 2007.

But Toyota is reviewing V8 Supercars this year as part of a wider investigation by newly appointed motorsport development manager Phil Galway.

Mr Conomos has at least twice shot down previous attempts to get Toyota into V8 Supercar racing.

However, with the advent of the Avalon replacement in late 2006, he acknowledged the power of the tribal loyalties V8 Supercar racing generates for Holden and Ford and the possible benefits for Toyota.

"Seventy per cent of Falcon and Commodore sales are fleet," Mr Conomos said. "But what influences fleet buyers are individuals. A fleet buyer says ‘I would like one of those cars, it just won on the weekend, I don’t like Ford, or I don’t like Holden’ depending on which side of the fence you are sitting.

"These issues are very important. To catch the hearts and minds of middle Australia is the consumer we don’t reach right now." While there are no doubts on a technical score that a Toyota V8 Supercar could be built, Mr Conomos said the company had philosophical doubts about the concept.

"It’s the investment, whether we would find community resentment with Ford and Holden? "If we won would there be a repeat of when the (Nissan Skyline) GTR beat everybody hands down at Mount Panorama? That kind of stuff."