THE POWER LIST

Ever wondered who is really pulling the strings and wielding power across the Australian automotive industry? Here are the top ten players Wheels rank as the real movers and shakers, and why you need to know them OWNER, TRIPLE EIGHT RACE ENGINEERING

Who’s really calling the shots in our auto industry?

IN THE cloistered, expensive and often vicious world of Australian motorsport, Roland Dane is the apex predator. Since arriving here little-known in 2003, he has progressively carved out a kingdom for himself within what’s now called Supercars, the only truly professional motorsport category in this country.

Irish-born Dane (who’s now an Australian citizen) took over a second-rate Ford team and has steadily, inexorably transformed it into a world-class operation, winning eight drivers’ championships, eight teams’ championships and six Bathurst 1000s along the way.

Now he not only runs the factory Holden Racing Team, his business is responsible for developing the new ZB Commodore racer and the V6 twin-turbocharged engine that will power it in 2019. And yes, all the money invested in ensuring that program’s success will eventually be a profit centre for Triple Eight Race Engineering.

Anyone who wants to race a Holden has to deal with Dane. His business also supplies control components across the category, so there’s at least a little bit of T8 in every car.

Dane is frequently smarter, more ruthless and more strategic than his rivals, in part because he sees motorsport’s place in a much larger automotive world, in which he has substantial investments.

Like all successful bosses, Dane is intimately connected with his business. He understands all departments, yet is also willing to delegate responsibility to those he trusts. But don’t fail him, don’t cross him and don’t betray him. Those that do suffer the consequences.

Dane has relinquished just a little of his power within the category recently, selling off minority stakes in his team and stepping down from the Supercars board.

But never doubt he is still in there lobbying, pushing and cajoling, convinced as ever his is the right way. You know what? It probably is.