Virgin Australia Supercars Championship - Archive

[GTracer38]

Am I the only one who thinks Engel is a complete waste of space? I dont understand why they even had him this year - new team, new development, surely you want an experienced hand in there developing the car?

I understand the whole get the international driver but, like you stated, they should have had someone, like Steven Johnson, to develop a new car. It would have been helpful for them. They could still try the Engel trick after a year or two.
Holdsworth and Slade are good but seem a bit fresh to the scene to be very good at car development.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Alex has been going about telling people that will is driving a Merc next year, so much for keeping secrets.

 

[05XR8]

Alex has been going about telling people that will is driving a Merc next year, so much for keeping secrets.

4 car assault? A Jeld Wen Benz? All these questions and more, will be answered on 60 Minutes.

 

[Spacegoat]

4 car assault? A Jeld Wen Benz? All these questions and more, will be answered on 60 Minutes.

Maybe taking over Slade's spot? And on Engel, I have to agree with @GTracer38. Not doubting Engel's ability's at all but it's a tough situation for him in his first year of V8's. Erebus would have been better served with an experienced guy like Johnson, etc.

 

[05XR8]

Johnson surely brought out the speed in the car. Hmm, if he had Slade's set up at QR and no brake dramas.. Wake up! Wake up! *slaps self in face*

 

[GTracer38]

Johnson surely brought out the speed in the car. Hmm, if he had Slade's set up at QR and no brake dramas.. Wake up! Wake up! *slaps self in face*

Always if's, but's and maybe's, but until they can put it all together on the day, just a dream. Car pace is improving, much like Nissan, and by the start of next season they will have both had a year of racing laps and a full test season underneath them. Even Volvo will be decent because they have 1 year of COTF data to base and a full test season. 5-way manufacturer battle next year is extremely possible!

Off topic, where did you get that Benz spy shot and is there a big version I could get?
The car looks mean clad in black.

With the Erebus situation, maybe they will get Blackberry as a sponsor
Alex Davison would only be for sponsorship in my mind, many others that could fill the seat, maybe even with more pace. Johnson seems eager to get back behind the wheel, full time, and had the pace at the enduros.
I don't really know why Erebus would go to 4 cars so soon, what with their financial situation. And why risk running a fourth car when the first 3 aren't up to scratch yet? I think Volvo are doing it right. A year or two as a 2 car operation and then add some numbers to the fleet.

V8S need to open up the REC's to 32 again, because there seems to be the demand. Sponsors are the only thing holding it back at the moment but maybe a bit more of this V8S expansion and that could change, hopefully.

Sorry about the large posts, I just get carried away with it.

 

[Spacegoat]

V8S need to open up the REC's to 32 again, because there seems to be the demand. Sponsors are the only thing holding it back at the moment but maybe a bit more of this V8S expansion and that could change, hopefully.

Yeah, 32 is the perfect grid number in my view. Obviously with all the silly season speculation about teams looking to expand I reckon there's more than enough interest to sustain that number of cars over a period of time. But as you mentioned sponsorships are the concern. *And now that I think about it, could an expanded grid be enough to spark another one or two manufacturers interest in joining the series?

*Probably not, but hey I can dream.

 

[05XR8]

The

Always if's, but's and maybe's, but until they can put it all together on the day, just a dream. Car pace is improving, much like Nissan, and by the start of next season they will have both had a year of racing laps and a full test season underneath them. Even Volvo will be decent because they have 1 year of COTF data to base and a full test season. 5-way manufacturer battle next year is extremely possible!

Off topic, where did you get that Benz spy shot and is there a big version I could get?
The car looks mean clad in black.

With the Erebus situation, maybe they will get Blackberry as a sponsor

V8S need to open up the REC's to 32 again, because there seems to be the demand. Sponsors are the only thing holding it back at the moment but maybe a bit more of this V8S expansion and that could change, hopefully.

Heres the link:
http://www.clubamg.com.au/forums/in...-stealth-erebus-v8-e63-amg-car-of-the-future/

Thats what Im hoping. Blackberry, Petronas, etc. Erebus also have a Motorsport Club. Membership gets you your name on the car among other perks. $100AUD to start. Cant wait to see my name on the car next year!

I second the larger grid. You know, with Mostert's Monster sponsorship and their association with Ford & Ken Block, im surprised they havent made a bigger presence in V8s. I know they got burned by Whincup but, theres room for them on the grid.

 

[GTracer38]

The

Heres the link:
http://www.clubamg.com.au/forums/in...-stealth-erebus-v8-e63-amg-car-of-the-future/

Thats what Im hoping. Blackberry, Petronas, etc. Erebus also have a Motorsport Club. Membership gets you your name on the car among other perks. $100AUD to start. Cant wait to see my name on the car next year!

I second the larger grid. You know, with Mostert's Monster sponsorship and their association with Ford & Ken Block, im surprised they havent made a bigger presence in V8s. I know they got burned by Whincup but, theres room for them on the grid.

Waiting for the right teem to back. FPR already have Pepsi, HRT have Rockstar and Triple 8 have Red Bull, they want to have a team they can win with. So they might aswell stay as a personal sponsor where they get the advertisement everytime one of their drivers win. I was hoping they would be on one of the Erebus cars but, like I said, they'll want to win.
Also, thanks for the link

Yeah, 32 is the perfect grid number in my view. Obviously with all the silly season speculation about teams looking to expand I reckon there's more than enough interest to sustain that number of cars over a period of time. But as you mentioned sponsorships are the concern. *And now that I think about it, could an expanded grid be enough to spark another one or two manufacturers interest in joining the series?
*Probably not, but hey I can dream.

What it might do is make teams more viable for manufacturer support. A 3 car Tekno team would be a good investment whereas 2 might not get the coverage they desire. Much the same for Triple 8 and DJR, but I would be suprized if someone like BJR didn't snap up manufacturer support in the next 2-3 years.

 

[05XR8]

Im also hearing, from the news, Holden(manufacturing) may be leaving Austrlia in 4years according to Canberra. Life goes on until that is confirmed.

 

[Spacegoat]

Tyre test ahead of Phillip Island round.

V8 Supercars are taking the unprecedented step of taking a fully blown race car to Phillip Island on Wednesday for an emergency tyre test amid fears the penultimate round of the championship could be ruined by a MotoGP style fiasco.

Phillip Island’s newly resurfaced track made world-wide headlines last month when some of international sport’s highest paid athletes were hurled of their motorbikes with the road ripping up their rubber and prompting an emergency two-wheeled pit-stop.

The dramatic and highly rare rubber-related MotoGP carnage has V8 Supercars fearing for the safety of the 28 drivers who will take to the famous track on November 22.

Bathurst winning driver Nick Percat (Walkinshaw Racing contracted driver) will take to the Victorian seaside track in V8 Supercars' prototype Commodore chassis to see what the $3 million surface upgrade does to the Dunlop rubber used in this year’s championship.

Percat, who raced with Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander at Bathurst last month, will do two full race simulations, a 60km run followed by a 100km mirror this month’s sprint format at Phillip Island.

 

[GTracer38]

Good call. Might aswell check and make sure all is good.

 

[05XR8]

This is on the Erebus Motorsport Club FB page

For collectors: http://www.v8supercars.jajascollect...ath=/Shops/jaja3844/Products/1523+Bauer+Promo

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

@05XR8 I see you're buying

 

[Spacegoat]

Well as long as @05XR8 is paying. I'll have a set too, thanks mate. j/k

 

[Wilbur]

Can I ask a dumb question? How in the world are those so expensive for some card, are they metal or just the normal material?

 

[05XR8]

Well why not? Full set for everyone!

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well why not? Full set for everyone!

Too bad I'd lose half in the first week. I can see it now. Ah funny jokes are good.

 

[05XR8]

Can I ask a dumb question? How in the world are those so expensive for some card, are they metal or just the normal material?

Id say the cards are made from the precious metal B$, on the periodic table. We know it as "gottamakeaprofit".

 

[Wilbur]

Id say the cards are made from the precious metal B$, on the periodic table. We know it as "gottamakeaprofit".

Well since you are buying, put me down for one! I will use them in my bicycle spokes to make the cool noise.

 

[05XR8]

Well since you are buying, put me down for one! I will use them in my bicycle spokes to make the cool noise.

 

[Spacegoat]

Mark Webber not interested in V8 Supercars.

The grand prix winner is stepping down from Formula 1 at the end of 2013 to lead Porsche's return to top-level sportscar racing next year, though he told Drive that V8 Supercars doesn't interest him.

"I don't have any urge to race in the Australian cars," he said.

"I think it is a great category and there is some great stuff they're doing with all the manufacturers coming in and I think they have to embrace that because it is good for the category.

"The quality of drivers is exceptional – very, very good drivers – but it is something that was never really on my radar and something that still isn't. It's nothing personal, but just something I never wanted to do."

With a reduced schedule in the World Endurance Championship with Porsche compared to Formula 1, Webber's Red Bull links had fuelled speculation of a possible endurance co-driver role with leading V8 Supercar team, Triple Eight.

 

[05XR8]

Guess he was sleeping during the AGP and Abu Dhabi support races. Maybe he'll have a change pf heart after Bathurst 12H. Hey, if he joins in a Carrera Cup event, thats still a win for us.

 

[Spacegoat]

Hopefully Mark does commit to a drive in the 12hr, whatever team he hooks up with is bound to do well. Though I reckon those Erebus cars are going to be awfully tough to beat.

And the 2014 calendar has been finalized.

Probably already mentioned this before but I'm real glad to see that Eastern Creek Sydney Motorsport park is back on the calendar. 👍

 

[05XR8]

I tbink we all needed to see V8s do a reset. Bring the fan base up, keep to the new naming SuperSprint, etc. For new viewers to follow. Get some better broadcasting here, twilight races. 5 marques to choose from. Will be an awesome 2014 to follow.

SMP will be awesome.

Good luck goes a long way at Mount Panorama. Slade and Holdsworth had a good shot if they didnt run into slower traffic at the restart. There will be four 458's. Lets see if there will be a quickest time penalty again or if they can go flat out posting a time.

 

[Spacegoat]

Dick Johnson confident over DJR's future.

Despite losing start driver Chaz Mostert, Dick Johnson insists his Racing operation is looking secure for next season.

Dick Johnson Racing struggled to make it onto the 2013 grid after losing key investors heading into the season, however its fortunes changed with the arrival of sponsorship from Wilson Security and rookie driver Chaz Mostert, who scored a win at Queensland Raceway on loan from Ford Performance Racing.

Though Mostert will move back to Ford Performance Racing to replace Erebus Motorsport-bound Will Davison in 2014, Johnson insists his team is looking good for next season, despite a continued lack of Ford funding.

Wilson Security is tipped to be staying with Dick Johnson Racing in 2014 with its Brad Jones Racing-backed driver David Wall linked with joining the Ford team next season.

However, the team could be forced to find another Racing Entitlement Contract (REC) with its #12 entry, leased from Dean Fiore, potentially moving to the reformed Paul Morris Motorsport in 2014.

One potential REC that could move into the team alongside its #17 entry is the #47 of James Rosenberg, currently run out of Erebus Motorsport for Tim Slade with the latter's decision to move to Walkinshaw Racing in 2014 prompting speculation that mentor Rosenberg will move on.

 

[05XR8]

Its a shame DJR been loyal and they get no factory backing.

 

[Spacegoat]

Yeah, unfortunately loyalty doesn't count for much these days it seems.

And interested to see if BJR will remain at three cars if indeed that speculation is true and Wall does join DJR next year. Could be another REC that potentially changes hands in the offseason.

 

[05XR8]

Some cool old stuff from V8s. If its free to attend Ill probably go.
http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/11/07/cafe-chat-troy-kelly-5-0-litre-tca/

Classic V8s to feature at Sandown
http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/11/07/classic-v8-supercars-feature-sandown-historics/

 

[Spacegoat]

Hyundai in talks to enter V8 Supercars?

Sources suggest the manufacturer has been in talks with V8 Supercars to enter the series with an undisclosed team from 2015, in a deal that could potentially be completed by the end of the current season.

Hyundai, which was the third best selling automotive brand in Australia in the month of September, recently revealed images of its new Genesis rear-wheel-drive model that features a five-litre V8 engine, meaning it has a pre-existing chassis-engine combination suitable to race in V8 Supercars.

However, the manufacturer rejected the speculation, with no suitable V8-engined model on sale in Australia at the time.

"Hyundai has no plans to go into motor racing, and we're not at a point in time where we're selling V8-engined cars [here in Australia], so it's not even a consideration," said Hyundai Motor Company Australia's director of marketing, Oliver Mann.

Hyundai is in the process of expanding its global motorsport program with a new in-house performance division, similar to Nissan's Nismo program, and an entry into the World Rally Championship with its i20 model in 2014.

V8 Supercar teams currently without factory support and likely partners for a new manufacturer include the likes of Brad Jones Racing, Tekno Autosports and Dick Johnson Racing.