International V8 Supercar Championships

[Hilux Max]

This is a pretty accurate information I have gotten today from someone I know within the ranks of the supercars.

The name has changed to "International V8 Supercar Championships". Hint Hint

It will develop pretty much into what Nascar has in regards to parity.

Team 888 has the contract to develop the standardised chassis that each team will run.

Only thing differentiating the teams/manufacturers will be exterior panels.

Each manufacturer will develop their own engine for the series but must stick to strict guidelines developed by the managing body of the sport.

i.e. each manufacturer to build a 5 litre quad cam V8, 8,000rpm limit, 750hp just for example.

Nissan and Toyota confirmed starters for 2013.

Nissan and Toyota have been hounding the V8 supercars for years to enter their vehicles. The way it was before toyota didnt have an actual rear wheel drive sedan they could have used as a basis for the sport but with these changes it will allow manufacturers into the game with their own engines and panel work to make the racecar look like something they sell.

10 years ago Ford and Holden both denied repeated requests by Toyota to enter the competition....the sport was pulling big crowds...but lately its been dropping off, tickets cost alot and the proffessionalism of the series has meant costs have been soaring and Ford and Holden are struggling to keep up sponsoring the series.

If you bring in other manufacturers they in turn bring in more money......more exposure overseas, more international races etc etc potential to become something really big.

So, whats everyone thoughts on this?


Personally I think its an awesome move, am hanging for Toyota to shove it up Ford and Holdens backsides!

[Bull]

I think it's a positive move. I've never been a fan of the V8 Supercars but I did enjoy Bathurst when anybody could race what they had (pre V8 Supercars) and I think if other marques are allowed to join in again I would show some more interest.

Then again, running a control car with different panels doesn't sound too exciting. Where's the incentive for manufacturers to push the boundaries and explore new ideas and technology to go faster?

I know Nascar is HUGE in the states. It's an institution. But I dunno if it will save the V8 series here. Time will tell.

[Oz Bruiser]

Should at least make it a bit more interesting. Ive always loved watching the V8's race and the Holden Ford battle wont stop jsut as in our world the Toyota / Nissan debate rages. One factor that will be i imagine better is previously when Holden kicked butt, the following rear they gained some penality ie less downforce , more weight etc to make it more even for Ford or vice versa if one make predomantly won the races. That allone was disapointing as whoever won the most got handicapped in some way the following year. Haveing other manurfactures in the mix and the same platform will change the dynamics and this in itself should bring better racing and hopefully less handicapp's. In saying that i drive a Toyota now but in the Holden / Ford debate im a Holden man through and through. Our family in general has either owned more Holdens or Toyotas when we have purchassed cars and i guess we gain alegiances from our parents etc, so i guess my kids will do the same.

[tidal]

Rumour has it the V8’s will be moving to 350 or 5.7 litre to move into line with the US, more grunt will make it interesting…like they haven’t got enough now. Imagine if they could rev a 350 to 8000rpm instead of the smaller motor & 7500rpm they have now but its just a rumour at this stage...

[helmut79]

Great move for the series, I'm a big fan of the supercars and this year’s series was pretty bloody good. I think this move should have happened a few years ago but anyway. Just hope it does not turn too much in to like NASCAR. There will be back lash from the die hards but would they prefer to see the series die then let other manufactures race?

[Hilux Max]

Mick,

thats where the incentive for change is coming from I beleive......the sport financially cant keep itself going at the level it is at and at the level it wants to be in the future....I wouldnt be surpised if Ambrose came back from Nascar when all this changes.

Im sure there will be more prize money and more international races.

You could almost guarantee a Japanese race....could eventually become like a F1 version of V8 sedan racing.

[Batman]

Guys,

I am of the opinion that V8 Supercars are largely irrelevant, and in my opinion the new series will be similar.

I long for the days of Group C and Group A (and before that group E) racing when the guys raced what were a lot more like production cars. Falcons, Commodores, Toranas, Escorts, Celicas, RX7s, Alfas, BMW, Nissan and so on all raced and it was IMO far more relevant and worth watching.

I want racing to be about real cars, I want to be able to go to the showroom and put my arse in a car that basically could be raced on Saturday. We haven't seen that for years, the only exception is V8 Brutes which is a very popular category.

Anyway that is my two cents worth.

Steve.

[plr1]

sound like its DTM racing australian style then again maybe there just making a hi profile version of australian sport sedan racing that been around for over 35 years.

[boycee]

I think the COF, car of the future is going to be interesting. I think it will be good to see some other manufacturers involved. They have a prototype almost built and will be testing in the winter. and all ready to run in the 2013 season.

However i think they are getting to far away from the "real" cars. I even think that it was a mistake going away from the H pattern gearbox as we are taking the stuff up risk away from the drivers. Used to love it when a simple missed gear could result in loosing a couple of positions.

I suppose we still have the gt production cars but who knows when they are racing as they don't have the publicity of the main game.

Having said all that i'll still be watching it.

[Ox Man]

Makes sense.... Long time coming there was word that only one other manufacturer had made a move to enter- this has been kicking around the cams circuit for around 2 yrs now....

What I do know is the company I work for has been Approached by an agency with sponsorship deals outside of local manufacturers for 2013 but we are not privy to the details- and already have a long standing relationship with the v8 super car series as a major sponsor...

[Quinny34]

Guys,

I am of the opinion that V8 Supercars are largely irrelevant, and in my opinion the new series will be similar.

I long for the days of Group C and Group A (and before that group E) racing when the guys raced what were a lot more like production cars. Falcons, Commodores, Toranas, Escorts, Celicas, RX7s, Alfas, BMW, Nissan and so on all raced and it was IMO far more relevant and worth watching.

I want racing to be about real cars, I want to be able to go to the showroom and put my arse in a car that basically could be raced on Saturday. We haven't seen that for years, the only exception is V8 Brutes which is a very popular category.

Anyway that is my two cents worth.

Steve.

Holy Smokes Batman... I concur...

[helmut79]

Guys,

I am of the opinion that V8 Supercars are largely irrelevant, and in my opinion the new series will be similar.

I long for the days of Group C and Group A (and before that group E) racing when the guys raced what were a lot more like production cars. Falcons, Commodores, Toranas, Escorts, Celicas, RX7s, Alfas, BMW, Nissan and so on all raced and it was IMO far more relevant and worth watching.

I want racing to be about real cars, I want to be able to go to the showroom and put my arse in a car that basically could be raced on Saturday. We haven't seen that for years, the only exception is V8 Brutes which is a very popular category.

Anyway that is my two cents worth.

Steve.

Holy Smokes Batman... I concur...

[bjpboz]

Interesting, I remember reading some years ago when Toyota Australia said they won't be in V8 racing as they had to use an old engine from the US truck series. The SWEET 4.0l Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 was over engineered compared to the heapa shit pushrods Ford and Holden were peddling.... maybe a 1960s Crown Eight (2.6l V8) could've done the trick.

Hopefully Bates comes out of retirement (for at least a season).

BJ

[salamander]

Somethings got to change, if Ford stop the Falcon in a few years it would just leave Holden to race itself. Used to be a big fan but started loosing interest about 3 years ago. It's a boring formula.

[Hilux Max]

Somethings got to change, if Ford stop the Falcon in a few years it would just leave Holden to race itself. Used to be a big fan but started loosing interest about 3 years ago. It's a boring formula.

Wont be a few years.....watch this space near end of financial year....I heard theres an announcement coming....and it seriously dont look good

last month mazda outsold ford, and hyandai just missed out on outselling them.

without a local small car or an export plan for the falcon they are just passing the time until the enevitable happens.

Remember Nissan everyone?

[white_hilux]

looks like mmaaxx's prediction came through. nissan to be introducted in 2013

NISSAN will join the V8 Supercars Championship in 2013 and become the first new manufacturer to enter the sport under its new ‘Car of the Future’ rulebook.

The news was announced today at a press conference in the River Room at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

The Japanese car giant will take on Holden and Ford in next year’s championship – the first run under new ‘Car of the Future’ rules.

Kelly Racing has signed with Nissan to become the company’s factory team and will run four cars next year from their Melbourne workshop.

The team will have the full support of the giant NISMO Nissan Motorsport organisation.

Announcing the news today was Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO Dan Thompson, Ian Moreillon (Executive General Manager, Sales and Fleet, Nissan Australia), V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane and V8 Supercars CEO David Malone.

“We plan to use our presence in the series to strengthen our passenger car credentials in Australia,” said CEO and Managing Director of Nissan Australia Dan Thompson.

“Nissan believes that, alongside Ford and Holden, we possess the most convincing motorsport DNA and track history in Australia, making a V8SC debut in 2013 an obvious initiative.

“We are targeting No.1 importer status in Australia and already making progress towards that as one of the country’s fastest growing brands. V8 Supercars will boost that momentum.”

The announcement signals the return of Nissan to the top form of touring car racing in Australia after an absence of two decades.

It last ran a factory team with Gibson Motorsport and four-wheel drive Nissan GT-Rs in 1992, claiming the Australian Touring Car Championship with Mark Skaife and the Bathurst 1000 with Skaife and Jim Richards.

V8 Supercars Commission Chairman Mark Skaife, Kelly Racing Chairman John Crennan and Kelly Racing co-owner/drivers Rick and Todd Kelly were also at today’s announcement.

“I couldn't be more excited with the opportunity Nissan has offered Todd, myself and the entire team at Kelly Racing to become their official factory team,” said two-time Bathurst winner Rick Kelly.

“Nissan's genuine enthusiasm, unwavering support and absolute professionalism through this evaluation has been tremendous and underpins their absolute intentions of Championship success in the category - a dream we share and hope to deliver on.”

The model of Nissan that the team will use – and the engine package the car will utilise – will be announced at a later date.

Nissan’s worldwide motorsport activites of late have proven to be strong and successful.

They won last year’s FIA GT1 World Championship with a Nissan GT-R driven by Germans Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm as well as the Japanese SuperGT Championship and took a 1-2 finish in the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour.

QUOTEBOOK

Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Co-Owner/Driver

“This new partnership has only been made possible by the endless amount of hard work that John Crennan has done for Kelly Racing on this project, and that of Ian Moreillon, Jeff Fisher and the team at Nissan of which Todd and I are very grateful.

“The Nissan COTF project is a huge undertaking however Todd and I are firmly focused on the job at hand this season ensuring that Kelly Racing takes those important steps forward on and off the race track.

“Development of our cars and recruitment of key personnel in the off-season should assist us to realise these immediate goals.

“This new partnership brings with it a host of opportunities for the team, our business partners and of course fans and delivers the vision that we have shared since our inception in the category in 2009.”

Todd Kelly, Kelly Racing Co-Owner/Driver

“Rick and I have had one clear goal that we have been striving for since we started Kelly Racing, that was to become a benchmark race-winning team with factory support.

“The timing with Car of the Future has enabled us to engage a manufacturer and achieve that.

“We couldn't be happier to be a factory Nissan team and factory Nissan drivers.”

Tony Cochrane, V8 Supercars Chairman

“We welcome Nissan with more than open arms.

“This announcement ratifies all we have known about V8 Supercars for a long time – that we are an international player, a growing following globally and in great demand by big business and corporate players.

“I also applaud Kelly Racing for this pioneering move to embrace Nissan and take one of the world’s biggest brands on their journey within the V8 Supercar Championship. Todd and Rick are truly remarkable businessmen, visionaries and drivers.”

Mark Skaife, V8 Supercars Commission Chairman

“This opens up a whole new chapter for V8 Supercars.

“The sport and the brand have been so successful over such a long period of time with today’s news reinforcing the direction of the business, coupled with imminent international expansion to multiple destinations globally.

“Nissan has clearly acknowledged V8 Supercars as a major component of their future plans within the Australian car market and motorsport internationally. V8 Supercars will deliver on their expectations.

“There is no doubting the entry of more manufacturers now that Nissan has taken the first step to recognize what the relationship will do for their brand.”

[white_hilux]

my question would be are nissan going to be running a v8 or a v6 turbo?

in other news it is on the cards that garry rogers motorsport will be swapping to crysler in 2013 as well

[mattwhite]

Guys,

I am of the opinion that V8 Supercars are largely irrelevant, and in my opinion the new series will be similar.

I long for the days of Group C and Group A (and before that group E) racing when the guys raced what were a lot more like production cars. Falcons, Commodores, Toranas, Escorts, Celicas, RX7s, Alfas, BMW, Nissan and so on all raced and it was IMO far more relevant and worth watching.

I want racing to be about real cars, I want to be able to go to the showroom and put my arse in a car that basically could be raced on Saturday. We haven't seen that for years, the only exception is V8 Brutes which is a very popular category.

Anyway that is my two cents worth.

Steve.

I completely agree. I find the more showroom spec cars much more interesting to watch. I can understand why v8 sc have gone this way, probably as a back up for when the commodore and falcon badge means nothing more than a name on some front wheel drive v6. But yeah, identical cars with different stickers racing each other might keep me enthralled for one lap.

[white_hilux]

wow this is a pretty old thread. thought that I would start marking it active again.

Went to the ipswich 360 on the weekend and had a great time. Im a ford supporter so it was great to see chaz and djr getting a win for the first time since 2010. The atmosphere at the end of the last race at the podium was incredible. A moment that I will never forget.

A lot of people pay out on QR but it is the best track in australia to view the race from. doesnt matter where you sit, you can see the whole track

here are a few pics that i took

[Scratchblades]

I'm Loving the way the V8's are going , im a big DTM watcher, i love seeing all the Marques getting into it, and im afraid if V8 Supercars want the big $$$$ then it was bound to happen ! and im glad it did, Erebus Motorsport is a really good addition......