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Nissan and V8 Supercars: Three tribes go to war

Australian tin-tops has been dominated by the battle between Holden and Ford for two decades. Mark Glendenning looks at the changes Nissan's arrival could bring

Mark Glendenning Feb 17, 2012, 11:55 AM

From the other side of the world, V8 Supercars tends to be viewed as a championship supported primarily by people who make hats out of beer cans, set each others' cars on fire, and who are split by a tribal divide that is deeper and less bridgeable than some that have started genuine wars.

On that basis, the news of Nissan's preparations to arrive in 2013 and break up a 20-year fight between Ford and Holden might seem surprising. But the reality is that the lines between the blue and red camps have become increasingly smudged in recent years, and many of the current generation of fans are ready to shift their allegiance behind a new badge. Or, just as crucially, welcome the opportunity to hate two brands instead of just one.