Have Nissan Done For Supercars What Honda Did For Formula One?

Rick Kelly, Nissan Kelly Racing, AGP. (C)

    "Race on Sunday. Sell on Monday." Or perhaps more pertinent is, "Win on Sunday. Sell on Monday." Is this old motorsport adage still applicable today?
    Manufacturers have always come and gone in various motorsport categories when marketing strategies and economic climates suit. Formula One in the 2000's was chock full of manufacturers. Only just a few years ago with the introduction of Car Of The Future (COTF), Supercars had Holden, Ford, Volvo, Mercedes and Nissan making up its ranks. Volvo and Mercedes have now departed. Now we have the announcement that Nissan are withdrawing factory support for the 4 car entry of Kelly Racing. With the recent Kelly Racing resurgence, have Nissan bailed out just as their investment was about to return dividends? 
    Recently, Kelly Racing are starting to punch at the top end of Supercars. A podium at Phillip Island. Rick Kelly breaking a 210 race win drought with victory at Winton. 3 out of the 4 cars qualifying in the top 10 at yesterday's Hidden Valley race. Now Rick Kelly has outclassed a quality field in the Top 10 Shootout to qualify on pole for today's race at Hidden Valley. You'd have to agree, it's fantastic brand exposure. However, does Nissan's withdrawal sound a little reminiscent of when Honda pulled the plug on F1 in 2008, and then the new revamped team called Brawn F1 won the championship in 2009? Sure, the bottom line is ultimately what determines Nissan's decision, but are they leaving just a tad too early a la Honda as a constructor in F1? Perhaps the next generation COTF with proposed turbos and energy recovery systems will entice them and other manufacturers back to the sport.
​    On the flipside, we have to admit, we don't see many Nissan Altimas on the road. But we see a lot of the sporty little Nissan Z series on the road. It's still a Nissan I suppose....
      
      

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