As we are all aware PROCAR is the category manager for BRUtes, F3, GT Performance, GT Production and Nations Cup in Australia, mandated by CAMS.
It seems that there was some confusion after the press release came out on Friday that PROCAR was ceasing operations. I too didnt quite get the gist of what was going on, presuming the worst, and thinking that PROCAR was shutting the doors with a view to relinquishing the category management rights.... that it was all over.
Well it seems nothing could be further from the truth!!
As I understand it, representatives of 120 teams from all 5 categories managed by PROCAR met yesterday, and a number of issues came to the surface.
First and foremost was the recognition that the way PROCAR had been operating for the last 11 racing seasons was now over. That the days of PROCAR leasing circuits, ensuring adequate numbers of cars for the different categories, employing administrators to construct the championship series, managing the technical specifications allowable in the category, and from that the prickly pear of parity... was over!! As well as financially underwriting the whole shebang!
From what I can gather, the teams are taking a surprisingly pragmatic view on the future, recognising that the competitors make the championships, not the organising bodies.... it seems a light bulb may have gone off above the heads of some people, who have finally realised that the responsibility for running the 5 different classes of racing should be on a collective management of the class, not a central administrator... and that there were opportunities to be had from this arrangement.
Its kind of like an employee getting equity in a company he works for. The employee feels better about working there because he knows that he will work harder, and indeed share in the spoils, and equally share in the responsibilities and risks.
Perhaps this is the masterstroke, to move the risks, responsibilities and upside into the hands of the people who actually influence the extent of such things by their participation!!
Agreed yesterday too was an organising committee formed to oversee the ongoing future of the collective of classes.
Some heavy hitters have apparently taken on the role of committeement, including:
- Peter Hansen (ex-CAMS administrator & CEO)
- Roy Leaver (currently on PROCAR board, from BRUtes)
- Peter Boylan (currently on PROCAR board, from GT Performance)
- Ian Palmer (currently on PROCAR board, from Nations Cup)
- Frank Slowiak (from PROCAR/Palmer Group)
So the way I see it happening is that each class will form its own management committee. So Nations Cup competitors will set up a board of its own, as will the GT Performance group of competitors, the APCC group, BRUtes and F3.
These groups will look after all of the responsibilities PROCAR previously did, ensuring entrant participation, gathering sponsorship, technical management, eligibility and control etc etc.
So I guess it will be like Commodore Cup to some extent, where there is a management committee in place, a set of class rules and regulations, and competitors will guarantee a minimum number of participants at certain race meetings across the country.
I presume from the cross-category organising committee that the intention is to keep the 5 classes together in one block as well.
Much has been written about the intention of BRUtes wanting to go play in the AVESCO arena... and indeed there were said to be a small number of dissidents involved at themeeting yesterday... although interestingly enough the people most vocal about the apparently poor job PROCAR had been doing had been trying to lever the class over to the AVESCO program for more than 2 years....
.... each person is entitled to an opinion of course, and presumably with the right constitution established for each organising committee, the voices will be heard, but the majority should rule!
The next event at Sandown is said to be covered by television, thru AVE, to be shown on #9 at the next agreed timeslot.
The (not unreasonable) expectation is that in a show of strength, all sorts of Nations Cup cars will come out of the woodwork to be at the Sandown meeting. If you believe half the cars that were promised yesterday actually show, we will see 3 Lambos, 6 Ferraris, 6 Porsches, 3 Vipers and assorted other cars... including the fabled Honda NSX Judd
So as I see it, the competitors in these classes have been handed a gift. They can either continue down their current path and race as it suits them, or they can take this opportunity to heart, to build their category up with a competitor-led direction.
PROCAR still technically exists, and will likely do so for some time yet... there doesnt seem to be a plan or indeed a need to place that operation into administration... and a number of employees remain with that business, offering facilitation assistance to the new category management.
So its not the end, only the beginning. Viva PROCAR!!