Australian MINI Challenge Future in Doubt
This from the MF inbox this week. It sounds like the current series will finish and MINI Australia is going to try to keep it going after that.
>The future of the Australian MINI Challenge series has been thrown into doubt with the management company of the series being placed into liquidation halfway through the racing season.
>CAMS, the governing body of Australian Motorsport, has received formal advice that Sherrin Motorsport, the category manager for the Porsche Carrera Cup and MINI Challenge, has gone into liquidation.
>A recent check shows Sherrin’s website has been pulled from internet access.
>A statement from CAMS Senior Manager Corporate Services and Acting CEO Sandra Lordanic quotes;
>“CAMS is committed to working with the various stakeholders to help minimise the impact of this situation on teams and competitors, and achieve a smooth transition for the remainder of the 2008 season and through 2009.”
>CAMS has already been in discussions with both Porsche Cars Australia and BMW Group Australia to ensure that both categories continue to run smoothly. While one-make series racing tend to produce close and competitive racing, their financial viability in Australia appears questionable.
>A statement of intent was made in May 2008 by Ian Sherrin, to sell Motorsport Event Management (MEM), the agency contracted as the category manager for the MINI Challenge series in Australia. At this time MINI Australia re-affirmed its commitment to seeing the MINI Challenge racing series grow despite the decision by Sherrin to sell.
>It has been reported that the Australian MINI Challenge had been experiencing a small field of cars at scheduled events under the required field minimum commitment. As well, the decision by MINI Australia to build RH drive cars for the series, limits the possibility of the cars being raced or sold in other countries, unlike the NZ MINI Challenge which uses LH drive cars.
>Unlike the MINI Australia series, the NZ MINI Challenge series is organised and administered by MINI New Zealand.
Hmm, I’ve heard a few murmurings in recent weeks and none have been all that positive I’m afraid. Hopefully everything can get sorted as the racing has really picked up over the last round or two.
Some more detail on the MEM sale from May can be <a href="http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/05/21/australian-mini-challenge-management-rights-up-for-sale.html" rel="nofollow">read on AUSmtoive</a>.
That’s sad to read as the series gives Aussies something more to watch than V8 Holden Commodores (GM) and Ford Falcons battering each other.
So USA should take note that unless you have Factory (read MINI USA) management, privateers can pull out if fields are small or unprofitable.
Meanwhile our Series here in New Zealand, which is backed by MINI NZ continues on to its third season with R53 LHD cars.