Cox: More International Drivers Needed!

Nissan global motorsport director Darren Cox has encouraged V8 Supercars teams to field international drivers as an integral part of each line-up in the PIRTEK Enduro Cup.

Running one international driver per car was once mandatory for all teams at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 as part of the agreement with the Queensland Government.

That was discontinued due to several factors, including cost, the lack of V8 Supercar experience and limited testing opportunities for the internationals, mostly due to them competing in other categories for the bulk of the year.

It is now the decision of teams whether they wish to run internationals – such as Holden Racing Team’s Ryan Briscoe or Tekno Austosports' Jeroen Bleekemolen this year – based on their own criteria.

Many teams opted for locally based drivers with experience in a V8 Supercar as well as the ability to take part in at-event practice sessions and test days through the year.

As well as wanting more internationals Cox has also called for each manufacturer represented in the Championship to enter a wildcard car in the two-driver races.

Under the current rules any V8 Supercars team or entity can apply for a wildcard based on having a competitive package, a sound business case and experienced drivers – as Triple Eight Race Engineering did at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 when running the X-Box One car of Mattias Ekstrom and Andy Priaulx.

Cox has confirmed Nissan will run international drivers and potentially a wildcard Altima at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in 2014.

“We will have international drivers racing at Bathurst next year,” Cox told v8supercars.com.au.

The most likely international candidates to drive in the October classic are German Michael Krumm and Spaniard Lucas Ordonez, who have already tested Nissan Motorsport Altimas at Winton in August.

If they are confirmed as Rick Kelly’s co-drivers in a factory GT3-spec Nissan GT-R that will effectively confirm their participation in the 1000 as well. 

“Part of the reason for that (Bathurst 12-hour entry) is to make sure the drivers have experience around the circuit,” Cox explained.

The driver swaps aren’t all likely to be one-way, with members of the local Nissan squad already linked with drives in the Dubai 24-hour, Spa 24-hour and Japanese Super GT racing.

Cox said he believed bringing international drivers to Australia was preferable to exporting the Championship overseas. V8 Supercars has raced in the Middle East in the past and the USA last year, but in 2014 only ventures off-shore to New Zealand.

“I think apart from probably DTM and to a certain extent NASCAR all national championships are too locally focussed,” he said.

“V8s have done this thing of going to Austin and going to Bahrain and going to Abu Dhabi and I just think … the way you internationalise the program is get more international drivers.

“I think you should stipulate if you are running a two car team then one of the two extra drivers has to be international. Over those three (endurance) races, it should be stipulated in the rules.”

Cox emphasised the quality of the drivers brought in had to be high to be worthwhile, using the excellent performance put in by Ekstrom and Priaulx as an example. 

“They have to be top professionals,” he said.

Intriguingly, an extra Altima on the grid at Bathurst in 2014 could be a precursor to a permanent expansion beyond the current four cars.

“I don’t think that is an option until beyond next year,” Cox said. “We will think about that probably this time next year.”

Cox also expressed confidence that current aerodynamic and engine development work underway in Australia, Japan and Europe would boost the competitiveness of the Altimas next season.

“My expectation at Bathurst next year is to be on the podium and in the Top 10 Shootout with two cars,” he said.