Offside Undo.(need for new racing series)(Brief Article)(Column)

Byline: Dutch Mandel

Can I be the only one to see this convergence of cars and passion and moment and marketing opportunity?

The idea: a new race series. It rises from the ashes of works efforts from Audi and Cadillac and Infiniti. It is ``affordable''-a relative term-and market-centric, unlike Jaguar's Formula One jumble. The racing pits recognizable, saleable cars against each other on America's road circuits. It comes to an area of market dominance near you. It is supported-hell let's make it organized-by the carmakers themselves. Is there anything better for General Motors, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti? Nope.

Listen: High-horsepower cars litter garages these days-Jaguar's S-Type R, BMW M5s and Mercedes-Benz E55s, to name some. Heck, let's have two classes; one for sedans, the other for coupes. This is one series that's not tough for all comers to step up and make go-fast cars. Think of Caddy's newly announced CTS V-Series or the Holden, er, Pontiac GTO. Or Audi's RS6. And Nissan or Infiniti needs a spot for the new Z or its G35 coupe (or coming Skyline) to shine.

Is there a better place than the U.S. market to showcase these vehicles? Nope.

So some will remember the short-lived North American Touring Car Series and say this is a pure rip-off. You might even pine for the glory days of the late '60s Trans-Am. Remember: There are no new ideas, just the right timing.

If manufacturers get behind this series the same way they're talking about overthrowing Formula One czar Bernie, what's not to guarantee ...