|
Ford Performance Racing Team
Principal Tim Edwards has responded to recent speculation on V8 Supercar
Championship Series expenditure, saying cost analysis is simply good business
practice.
Spending has become the hot topic
this week after it was revealed the V8 Supercar Australia board has set itself
cost reduction targets over the next few
seasons, with possible measures including more control elements and reviewed
sporting regulations.
Speaking on Channel Nine's World
Wide Sport yesterday Edwards, who also sits on
the V8 Supercar board, said the move was simply a measure to preserve the
championship's current prosperous climate.
"The sport is very healthy at the
moment so it's exactly the right time to be thinking about this, rather than
leaving it until it's a knee jerk reaction," said Edwards. "It's exactly the
same as the way I run FPR; you're always looking for ways to reduce
costs."
FPR is currently one of the best
funded teams on the V8 Supercar grid and therefore would be most affected by
stricter controls.
"Personally I'd rather not see the
rules change at all, because FPR is in a good spot at the moment," said Edwards.
"However in my capacity on the board, I've got to think about what will benefit
the sport and put aside what impact it will have on our team. Besides, we’re
confident we can be competitive under any new rules."
Several suggestions had been tabled
as to where costs could be reduced in the V8 Supercar Championship Series but
those plans could take up to two years to implement.
"Basically the board is working
towards changes to the technical and sporting regulations that will allow all
teams to save money," continued Edwards. "There's no one area of our business
that's costing us too much; we have a list of around ten major areas and all of
them have to be targeted."
"The format of our race weekends,
for example, is very expensive. Three sprint races mean three opportunities to
put new brakes, bumpers and bars on the car and that all costs money.
"Having said that, we have to be
very careful not to mess with the fabric of the championship; although the
format is expensive, it's very popular with the fans, sponsors and the TV. We
have got to make changes that don't mess with the show but hopefully improve
it."
|
