2016 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship - Results and TalkTouring Cars 

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05XR8
Hurrying to get a second driver shouldn't be an option. If they just take the Tekno or DJRTP(last year) route with one car for this season, regroup and set things in motion for next year, would be better.
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They can't just run a single car due to the REC requirements and I doubt that would be able to find another team willing to take on an additional car / REC this late in the season.
 
ThomasJarrett
http://bit.ly/2bq2XW2
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I can't imagine who she might drive for.

Chris Pither is said to be in jeopardy, but I imagine that Super Black might pick up Richie Stanaway in his place.

Scott McLaughlin's Volvo seat is free, but GRM haven't confirmed their plans for a replacement car, and I imagine that Rodgers would pick up James Courtney or promote James Golding.

If Courtney does leave HRT, a vacancy becomes available, but it's hardly a desirable drive - likewise the second Erebus or either of the LDM seats.

Otherwise, she could replace Wood at Nissan, but Nissan haven't committed to a future in the sport, and if they don't make the changes in their management (like getting rid of the Kellys), they'll continue to languish.
 
If Nissan are to continue in 2017 they'd be mad not to go for Simona. Dump Dale Wood and go for her. If Harvey Norman are willing to continue with backing for her and/or Gracie then it means Nissan have that money that they were looking for with Wood joining the team this year. With the amount of air time that they'd get, any sponsor or team would be crazy not to get behind her too.
 
The problem is that the Kellys won't let her race. She'll be lucky to get any resources because Caruso is quick and the Kellys are on an ego trip.
 
prisonermonkeys
The problem is that the Kellys won't let her race. She'll be lucky to get any resources because Caruso is quick and the Kellys are on an ego trip.
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I'm sorry but I don't believe for a second that they wouldn't let her race. They're not stupid enough to let such an ideal marketing opportunity go to waste. Simona probably wouldnt be beating either Kelly or Caruso anyway so it's not like they don't want to be beaten by her.
 
LumpiestFish
They're not stupid enough to let such an ideal marketing opportunity go to waste.
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But they are dumb enough to prioritise the allocation of resources based on something other than speed. That was David Reynolds' major criticism of the team - that because the team was built around the Kellys, the Kellys got first bite at the apple, and I haven't seen anything to suggest things have changed. They're not running a racing team, they're running an excuse to keep their careers alive.
 
Aren't VASC willing to help a team support a female driver? She'd be driving an FG X for the second time. It would mean, she would have to learn a different car if she switched to a Holden or Nissan. What team or new owner, would switch to the FG X chassis for next year?
I do wonder if RBRA would jump on the opportunity to give SDS a drive. Maybe BJR. Erebus and Nissan are doable.
I can't see LDM or GRM.

Edit: I feel this
http://www.supercars.com/news/championship/early-enduro-test-for-nissan/
The #23 has more of a chance but, I can see Rick/Ingall on the podium come October. The last 10 laps, I think the Altima will be pretty damn quick. Good on its tyres and it's tough. Might be the quickest car over the top of the Mountain.
 
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prisonermonkeys
Chris Pither is said to be in jeopardy, but I imagine that Super Black might pick up Richie Stanaway in his place.
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Has there been talk of Richie joining the grid ? This is the first time I've heard/seen his name mentioned for V8's.

This would be quite exciting, I rate Richie as one of NZ's absolute fastest drivers, I would say give him a little bit of time to acclimatise and he would be right up there with Scottie and SVG.
 
prisonermonkeys
Chris Pither is said to be in jeopardy, but I imagine that Super Black might pick up Richie Stanaway in his place.
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There's been a rumour that PRA are wanting to move Jack Le Brocq up to main game next year. With their other three drivers under contract for 2017, there's chance we might see Le Brocq at SBR?
 
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Spacegoat
With their other three drivers under contract for 2017, there's chance we might see Le Brocq at SBR?
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Super Black was founded on the premise of being the New Zealand team, like Team Kiwi Racing a few years ago. I doubt that they would give up on that too quickly if there was a suitable New Zealand-born driver out there.

05XR8
I do wonder if RBRA would jump on the opportunity to give SDS a drive.
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Probably only as a wildcard. They just expanded to three cars; I can't see them moving to four so quickly.

Maybe BJR.
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I have heard that they want Nick Percat to replace Jason Bright. De Silvestro could work as a substitute for Tim Blanchard, but if BJR pick up Percat alongside Slade, I can't see De Silvestro moving up.

Erebus and Nissan are doable.
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Erebus isn't appealing, at least not until they get a long-term plan sorted out. As it is, they're running year-old Walkinshaw Commodores and have no clear path for development.

As for Nissan, they have been run as a vanity project, not a works team. They have neglected every major signing to have been available in the past year or so. You can't tell me that Caruso, the Kelly brothers and Wood represent the team's best prospects when Reynolds, Coulthard, McLaughlin, Pye and Slade have all become available and Percat and Courtney are said to be free soon. If Nissan really wanted results, they would move heaven and earth to get Caruso, Courtney, Coulthard and Percat and they haven't so much as batted an eye. De Silvestro at Nissan could work - an international driver in a factory team and a massive marketing opportunity. But so long as they continue to entertain the Kellys' deluded belief that they are still competitive, I would steer clear (which is ironic, given the massive turning circle of the road-going Altima).
 
prisonermonkeys
But so long as they continue to entertain the Kellys' deluded belief that they are still competitive, I would steer clear
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3 cars in the top 13 in points isn't competitive? PRA can't even say that. I still think their resources are spread too thin and they need to scale back to at most a 3 car effort, preferably 2 cars. Now if we could just find out why Nissan are dragging their feet on staying put, we're half way through August and the decision was supposed to be made in June...
 
I'm amazed by NISMO as well. They have been hovering top 10 the past 3 years. By rights, there just isn't room.

From COTF 2013:
T8(2+1 cars)
PRA(3+1 cars)
HRT(2+2 cars)

There has been no room since. Yet, NISMO are there. Above BJR.
900points on offer after SMP. Anything can and will happen.

I did read about Percat to BJR. I can't call who is moving where for next season.
Where does LeBroq go? No room at PRA or DJRTP.
Do GRM can Moffat and pick two fresh rookies?
Heimgartner stays at LDM. Who gets the other seat?
Is Wood out? Blanchard? Some of these teams need to keep the money. When do the right drivers get to have seats on merit?
 
R1600Turbo
3 cars in the top 13 in points isn't competitive?
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No, I said the Kellys' belief that they are still competitive. I very much doubt that Nissan set "three cars in the top thirteen" as a goal when they entered - especially when, with a line-up like Caruso, Courtney, Coulthard and Percat, they could have four in the top ten and at least one in the top five.
 
Coulthard would have never gone to Nismo. Their pockets ain't that deep. Plus, uncertainty about Nissan staying. Courtney would have been spewing when he found Penske were in.
 
prisonermonkeys
Super Black was founded on the premise of being the New Zealand team, like Team Kiwi Racing a few years ago. I doubt that they would give up on that too quickly if there was a suitable New Zealand-born driver out there.
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Not sure how reliable the info is. But the talk is of PRA either leasing or buying the REC from SBR in order to accommodate Le Brocq next year.
 
R1600Turbo
Anyone know if they will use the current Insignia or is there a new one on the way?
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A brand new model is on the way. I believe it'll be on sale late next year.

The only part that has surprised me is the moving of the HRT moniker to the 888 camp. I was expecting to not see that name on the grid next year, so at least there's consolation in that. I also wonder if this will have any influence on James Courtney's future plans.
 
R1600Turbo
Anyone know if they will use the current Insignia or is there a new one on the way?
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I posted an update this morning in the Commodore thread. I think they'll wait the 18months before production here ceases.

Ryan should be looking at importing Cadillacs or Camaros or get Jaguar back. They couldn't get the COTF package to work. Maybe they'll do better with a new brand.
 
The articles I have read haven't really said how many car Triple Eight are running. Speedcafe said that there will be 2 RBHRT cars but didn't say anything about the third car that Lowndes currently drives for. I was hoping that maybe it would be two RB branded cars and 2 HRT branded cars but I doubt it will be that way.


With this announcement being inevitable, I was originally hoping that HRT would still be current HRT but instead using factory 888 cars, while still being run by themselves. Being a HRT fan since following the sport when young it's a bit sad but interesting at the same time.
 

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