Cap'n Jack
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Great idea in theory, and I’m all for it but it would be a massive expense to some of the smaller Super2 teams. It would have to be an optional race to compete in.
2020 Virgin Australia Supercars ChampionshipTouring Cars
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https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/13/opinion-supercars-team-owners-have-big-decisions-to-make/
Unpopular opinion: reset to TCM being the Supercars series. Just need a driver and a couple mechanics at most. Go back to driving your car to the track, racing it and driving home.
Just me ranting, but the TCM, Tasman and NZ series are/were doing fine with old muscle. Multiple classes, all brands, people would pay to see it.
Unless, Supercars switch to Trans Am cars, can't see teams racing in the future. This is just me.
Unpopular opinion: reset to TCM being the Supercars series. Just need a driver and a couple mechanics at most. Go back to driving your car to the track, racing it and driving home.
Just me ranting, but the TCM, Tasman and NZ series are/were doing fine with old muscle. Multiple classes, all brands, people would pay to see it.
Unless, Supercars switch to Trans Am cars, can't see teams racing in the future. This is just me.
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https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/14/23red-racing-set-to-pull-out-of-supercars/
Looks like corona may have claimed its first victim
Looks like corona may have claimed its first victim
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https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/14/23red-racing-set-to-pull-out-of-supercars/
Looks like corona may have claimed its first victim
Rumor has it that Peter Adderton of Boost is waiting in the wings to buy out the REC and replace Davison with Adderton's friend James Courtney. Would be a massive shame if that happened as I'd rate Davison over Courtney.
I'm not surprised to hear of teams in financial trouble. I hate to say it but 23Red might not be the only one. At least half of the grid are not in good shape financially (and that was before Covid) and the events of the last few months have compounded those financial issues. Throw in Holden leaving and the series TV deal up for renewal at end of year (with the current FTA broadcaster not wanting to extend and the cable TV provider deeeeep in debt) and the series faces some big challenges in the next six months.
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https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/14/23red-racing-set-to-pull-out-of-supercars/
Looks like corona may have claimed its first victim
Never been the biggest Davison fan but really disappointed for him. He's had a career resurgence of sorts since joining them.
Fingers crossed no more teams suffer the same fate.
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There's also the series sponsor Virgin Australia in voluntary administration.
Big challenges ahead alright
Thats not as big as a deal as it could be. The sponsorship is believed to be in the form of free freight for the teams in the series ~ $1.5m a year. Its not a good outcome as the teams will now have to pay for freight and flights themselves but given the events this year they won't be paying much for that
This was posted on facebook last night by someone who is right more times then wrong about various happenings in the championship. Even if they get half of this wrong its still very bad news for the series. I'd heard rumors of Penske pulling out even before Covid hit so this is nothing new to me on this point.
From the DSO
OK, so no more stuffing around.
Here is what I know, some of it will be proven right, some maybe not.
1) Peter Adderton has bought the 23 Red REC, and the 2 Mustang's owned by Phil Munday.
2) James Courtney will be driving a Mustang, with Boost sponsorship for the remainder of the 2020 season. The car will be run on a similar prep deal out of Tickford.
3) Almost definitely four, but as many as seven cars won’t make it back when the Supercars season re-commences.
Macca Jones & Jack Smith (Smith to S5000), both Team Sydney cars, gone according to my spies.
Also hearing that possibly both Charlie Forklift (this one I doubt) and the Kelly’s are still deciding. (all pending sponsors commitments)
4) For the remainder of 2020, Supercars are contracted to run a minimum 24 car grid, for Foxtel, so the shortfall will be made up by Super 2 teams.(coz they’re all so cashed up, hey ?
)
5) Sprint races will be run on a new format, with no pitstops… (team number restrictions also will dictate this)
6) Scotty Mac was US bound, but now it seems Penske won't be running a 4th Indycar in 2021.
7) Penske were planning on closing the doors at DJRTP at the end of the year. (and probably still will) **
8) Anton DePasquale had signed a deal with DJRTP to replace Scotty Mac (before they decided to leave the Dr, high and dry) **
9) Courtney had an in-principal agreement to run a third Erebus car, as a Wildcard, for as many races as possible, with Boost sponsorship (see point 2)
10) Anton might end up staying in a third Erebus car next year, as Dave & IFWB are both locked. **
11) Ross Palmer recently told a friend of mine that Supercars is almost $70M in debt (currently)
If anyone knows about going up, it's Ross.
12) I can't actually believe that both Anton and Scotty are potentially without a drive in 2021. **
13) I personally don't think Supercars will survive the current crisis, maybe not even the year.
They have crafted themselves as an event promoter and are now contractually obligated to run events for TV, but will lose vast amounts of money running them in front of no paying customers.
** see point 13…
Well, almost time for me to close the page and retire.
I think I'll have ruffled some feathers with this post.
#SoMeWatch
#PeaceOut
FPV MIC
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This is what I read the deal was supposed to be.... but as you say, they won't be using much for travel/freight now.Thats not as big as a deal as it could be. The sponsorship is believed to be in the form of free freight for the teams in the series ~ $1.5m a year. Its not a good outcome as the teams will now have to pay for freight and flights themselves but given the events this year they won't be paying much for that
Gotta love those bonuses for the high flyers
.... and all previous champions.https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/04/21/supercars-sponsor-virgin-australia-in-voluntary-administration/
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The days of Supercars are definitely numbered... They are screwed. A fundamental rethink is required for the series to continue past this point. It cannot carry on like this; it's no longer sustainable.Thats not as big as a deal as it could be. The sponsorship is believed to be in the form of free freight for the teams in the series ~ $1.5m a year. Its not a good outcome as the teams will now have to pay for freight and flights themselves but given the events this year they won't be paying much for that
This was posted on facebook last night by someone who is right more times then wrong about various happenings in the championship. Even if they get half of this wrong its still very bad news for the series. I'd heard rumors of Penske pulling out even before Covid hit so this is nothing new to me on this point.
CodeRedR51
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Season to restart with a two day event on June 27th at Sydney Motorsport park.
Guessing that Davison will stay at Tickford as a co-driver. Premat probably isn't going to be able to fly into the country anytime soon.
Guessing that Davison will stay at Tickford as a co-driver. Premat probably isn't going to be able to fly into the country anytime soon.
CodeRedR51
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Slightly disappointed they booted the 12Hr aside just so they could have a second race at Bathurst.
FPV MIC
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It's still planned to run along side the Supercar event.
https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/...ost-a-great-race-and-supercars-season-finale/
CodeRedR51
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FPV MIC
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Hopefully they can at the very least open the park'n'view section, but if they limit the numbers appropriately there's also plenty of half decent spots to view from the comfort of your own car that aren't designated park'n'view spots. At the TCR events and Supercars test day we could park *anywhere we liked*... it was great! It would give the event a real ol' school feel too (like the good old days at tracks like Mallala).
*I mean anywhere we liked not just where we were allowed too. I directed my wife right out to the back of the track to show her the full circuit which was way past the barriers to stop vehicles from venturing. It also started a trend of other more adventurous types doing the same thing
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Cap'n Jack
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Man, it’s wild to think that Courtney has been without a seat for this long and hadn’t even missed a race. Imagine if he (and it’s a long shot) won the championship!
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Sadly Will doesn't have a sponsor behind him.
Assuming things stay the same. It's funny to think that Jack Perkins will be JC's co-driver. Strange how things work out.
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The 12 Hour won’t really have the same excitement about it without the international teams imo. Unless some Supercars teams were to step up and run some GT3 cars, there aren’t really enough truly quality GT teams in Aus. They could open up some more of the lower classes maybe?
One factor too is that supposedly (I don’t know if this 100% true) NSW are contracted to have the final round, so the only realistic choices are SMP or Bathurst.
