New Supercars CEO Howard 'so excited' about Gen3
New Supercars CEO Shane Howard has expressed his excitement with the Gen3 cars, which will make their racing debut in 2023.
Howard was confirmed Monday as the new category CEO, and will take over from Sean Seamer next month.
The experienced Howard has been a fixture of the category for over 20 years, and is currently serving as COO.
The second year of Howard’s tenure, in 2023, will feature the racing debut of Gen3 cars.
The project, which was first announced in October 2020, has accelerated in recent months following its official unveiling in Bathurst.
Gen3 prototypes have been testing in Ipswich
Supercars has been carrying out Camaro and Mustang Gen3 prototype testing at Queensland Raceway since Monday.
Having witnessed the Gen3 project from its inception to its current guise, Howard was champing at the bit to see the cars on track in 2023.
"You saw the release of Gen3 at Bathurst… the hairs on my arms poke up when we start talking about it,” said Howard, who also cited overseas racing as a key platform to present the new cars.
"I am so excited about the Gen3 cars.
"It's a beautifully-engineered race car, it reflects the showroom look, it allows us to open up to more manufacturers.
Supercars’ new ownership, spearheaded by new Chairman Barclay Nettlefold, supports Howard’s "clear strategic vision for the future of Supercars” with Gen3 and overseas racing on the horizon.
For Howard, taking Supercars and Gen3 global is an opportunity to take the category to “another level".
“I’ve had a long apprenticeship in Supercars, almost 20 years,” Howard said.
“To be given the role… I’m so excited about the opportunity, the new ownership structure, Barclay’s support and the board’s support.
"We want to grow the business and really take it to another level.”
The new prototypes were unveiled in Bathurst last month
The Gen3 platform is centred on market and road relevance, with the Camaro and Mustang offering a greater visual likeness to their road-going counterparts.
Nettlefold said a return to overseas racing could encourage Gen3 IP to be used in other categories.
"Certainly one of the key areas that Shane is focussing on is the ability, under the new structure, to really explore the international marketplace again,” Nettlefold explained.
"Owning the IP of Supercars is an integral part. We know we are the best international touring car competition and we want it to be proven even more.
"Everything is open. We'll certainly explore all options."
