GM explains 'tough' homologation team decision

General Motors says picking Chevrolet Racing's new Supercars homologation team wasn't as simple as picking the best team, in what was one of GM's "toughest decisions” made in recent years.

Announced Friday, the Charlie Schwerkolt-owned Team 18 got the nod to become GM’s homologation team, replacing Ford-bound Triple Eight Race Engineering.

After a weeks-long process, Team 18 ultimately won a race that seemed led and, for a time, won by Peter Xiberras’ PremiAir Racing.

A long-awaited announcement was delayed a number of times, but on Friday in New Zealand, GM executives finally confirmed Team 18 had been given the tick of approval.

Both Team 18 and PremiAir have considerable engineering nous. PremiAir Racing has some ex-Triple Eight staff, led by engineering guru Ludo Lacroix.

Team 18, meanwhile, has former Supercars motorsport boss Adrian Burgess, who also helped spearhead the Gen3 program, along with Dr Geoff Slater and Richard Hollway.

Speaking with media, GM’s Eric Warren said explained: “All of our teams really are valuable to Chevrolet. Honestly, from the very first meeting, all the teams very much wanted to see a new model, wanted to collaborate.

“The relationship that Adrian had with Supercars, and really talking with both Ken McNamara on the engine side, Jeromy [Moore] with you know what we’re looking forward towards the future... you’re trying to find a puzzle to where you can bring the strengths of everybody together.”

Triple Eight tech guru Moore and KRE Race Engines’ McNamara have signed on with GM, and Warren said Schwerkolt was also all-in with Chevrolet.

Schwerkolt himself owns a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Corvette Stingray, and his team has raced GM machinery since 2015. Team 18's sole Supercars win came in a Camaro, courtesy of Mark Winterbottom in 2023.

However, Warren insisted the decision wasn't centred on just picking a team that was the best Chevrolet team. Rather, Team 18 fit the bill amid GM’s push for a more collaborative effort.

“At the end of day, you had to pick someone. I think that Charlie embraced Chevrolet and the process from the very beginning,” Warren said.

“I’m confident that — and I honestly believe that — Charlie and Team 18 really want to take the role of building the group as a whole with the strength.

“So, it was tough choice to be frank with you... I would rather it be ‘Team Chevy’. We’ll talk about it as ‘Team Chevy’ and that’s how we’ll approach it going forward.

"Certainly, it was a tough pick and lots of valuable teams to us. I have communicated that, and we’ve had lots of discussion, and even as we talk through the decision, trying to make sure... we weren’t picking who was the best team.

"It really was the homologation team for the homologation activities, and we can add strength to the group as a whole through Team 18, we feel like. And that’s kind of our approach. It’s not been easy, for sure.”

Supercars will return on Saturday for back-to-back Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions from 10:25am NZST/8:25am AEST, which will set the grids for the dual 120km sprints.