chris_e_fresh
The Virtual One
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i dont like v8's but this should of happened years ago!! cant wait for all the new cars to enter
On the week Ford Australia dropped a bombshell by ending its famous rivalry with Holden, V8 Supercars on Wednesday hit back by issuing an open invitation for every single car manufacturer to join the series in the biggest shake-up in the sport’s history.
In an emphatic reply to Ford’s controversial decision to exit the series at the end of next year, the V8 “white paper’’ was dropped at the grand finale luncheon in Sydney with the future blueprint making history by allowing non-V8 cars into the sport.
On a game-changing day for the sport ahead of this weekend’s season ending Sydney 500 it was revealed that from 2017:
● A V8 engine will no longer be compulsory;
● TURBO engines, four cylinder engines and six cylinder engines will be allowed to compete alongside V8 engines;
● TWO-door coupe body styles will be admitted into the sport as long as they have a back seat;
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● ALL cars will continue to use the current “Car of the Future’’ chassis as their base; and
● ALL current “control components’’ will be compulsory with more to be developed.
The blueprint of the new Gen2 Supercar
The blueprint of the new Gen2 Supercar Source: Supplied
With Lexus the latest high-profile brand to publicly express interest in joining Holden, Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes in the series, V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton spoke enthusiastically on Wednesday about the future of the sport after witnessing strong rises in television and social media numbers.
“We have consulted widely with our fans, manufacturers and teams,’’ Warburton said.
“And we have studied motorsport, motoring trends and looked far and wide.
“The one thing for us was that we had to ensure the DNA of our sport — fast, loud, and close and aggressive racing — remained.
Chaz Mostert aboard a current-spec V8 Supercar.
Chaz Mostert aboard a current-spec V8 Supercar. Source: Getty Images
The Lexus RC F GT3 car Pic: Supplied
The Lexus RC F GT3 car Pic: Supplied Source: Supplied
“The cars need to look like the road-going car and they need to look tough. But to keep the existing manufacturers and to attract new ones to the sport, we needed to give them more of their DNA by allowing them to bring their engine and body configurations to the sport.
“So today we can tell you that from 2017 that V8s can race alongside any other configuration, whether it be six cylinder, four cylinder or turbo. Whatever anyone wants to bring.’’
The changes, which will be implemented in 2017 after a testing and development program, will open the way for an American muscle invasion with the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro two of the iconic cars that could join the sport.
V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton (C) with Marcos Ambrose and Jamie Whincup. Photo: Tim Hu
V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton (C) with Marcos Ambrose and Jamie Whincup. Photo: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia
With cars no longer required to be four-door sedans like the Commodore, smaller two-door cars can enter the series provided they are available to the public with a back seat.
“Sedans might be joined by five door and two door cars,’’ Warburton said.
“Or by other body configurations under the new rules. But critically the cars will continue to run on the “Car of the Future’’ platform. It will use all the existing, and potentially some further control parts. It will still run on the same fuel and run on the same parity measures that have contributed to the closeness of our sport.’’
The Daily Telegraph understands several manufacturers not currently involved in the series were heavily involved in the “white paper’’ and at least two have expressed strong interest in joining the series.
Funding pull down to business
2:04
After losing Ford, Ford Performance Racing (FPR) are at the top of the list for potentially manufacturers having one back-to-back Bathurst titles and having star driver Mark Winterbottom in their impressive Melbourne based stable.
Warburton said smaller engines would not mean less noise with a promise to keep the sport loud and aggressive despite a consumer shift to quitter, less fuel thirsty machines.
“It is imperative to keep the sport relevant to the current environment, entertaining and, critically, viable for the race teams,” Warburton said.
“The current climate in world motorsport is absolutely clear. Manufacturers want choice in what they go racing with, otherwise they won’t participate. They want their DNA represented and so do we. We will not compromise our DNA — fast, loud and fierce racing.”
“The sheer brute power and sound of V8 Supercars is synonymous with the sport. A key area will be retaining the acoustic effect of high powered race cars no matter the engine or make.”
On the week Ford Australia dropped a bombshell by ending its famous rivalry with Holden, V8 Supercars on Wednesday hit back by issuing an open invitation for every single car manufacturer to join the series in the biggest shake-up in the sport’s history.
In an emphatic reply to Ford’s controversial decision to exit the series at the end of next year, the V8 “white paper’’ was dropped at the grand finale luncheon in Sydney with the future blueprint making history by allowing non-V8 cars into the sport.
On a game-changing day for the sport ahead of this weekend’s season ending Sydney 500 it was revealed that from 2017:
● A V8 engine will no longer be compulsory;
● TURBO engines, four cylinder engines and six cylinder engines will be allowed to compete alongside V8 engines;
● TWO-door coupe body styles will be admitted into the sport as long as they have a back seat;
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
● ALL cars will continue to use the current “Car of the Future’’ chassis as their base; and
● ALL current “control components’’ will be compulsory with more to be developed.
The blueprint of the new Gen2 Supercar
The blueprint of the new Gen2 Supercar Source: Supplied
With Lexus the latest high-profile brand to publicly express interest in joining Holden, Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes in the series, V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton spoke enthusiastically on Wednesday about the future of the sport after witnessing strong rises in television and social media numbers.
“We have consulted widely with our fans, manufacturers and teams,’’ Warburton said.
“And we have studied motorsport, motoring trends and looked far and wide.
“The one thing for us was that we had to ensure the DNA of our sport — fast, loud, and close and aggressive racing — remained.
Chaz Mostert aboard a current-spec V8 Supercar.
Chaz Mostert aboard a current-spec V8 Supercar. Source: Getty Images
The Lexus RC F GT3 car Pic: Supplied
The Lexus RC F GT3 car Pic: Supplied Source: Supplied
“The cars need to look like the road-going car and they need to look tough. But to keep the existing manufacturers and to attract new ones to the sport, we needed to give them more of their DNA by allowing them to bring their engine and body configurations to the sport.
“So today we can tell you that from 2017 that V8s can race alongside any other configuration, whether it be six cylinder, four cylinder or turbo. Whatever anyone wants to bring.’’
The changes, which will be implemented in 2017 after a testing and development program, will open the way for an American muscle invasion with the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro two of the iconic cars that could join the sport.
V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton (C) with Marcos Ambrose and Jamie Whincup. Photo: Tim Hu
V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton (C) with Marcos Ambrose and Jamie Whincup. Photo: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia
With cars no longer required to be four-door sedans like the Commodore, smaller two-door cars can enter the series provided they are available to the public with a back seat.
“Sedans might be joined by five door and two door cars,’’ Warburton said.
“Or by other body configurations under the new rules. But critically the cars will continue to run on the “Car of the Future’’ platform. It will use all the existing, and potentially some further control parts. It will still run on the same fuel and run on the same parity measures that have contributed to the closeness of our sport.’’
The Daily Telegraph understands several manufacturers not currently involved in the series were heavily involved in the “white paper’’ and at least two have expressed strong interest in joining the series.
Funding pull down to business
2:04
After losing Ford, Ford Performance Racing (FPR) are at the top of the list for potentially manufacturers having one back-to-back Bathurst titles and having star driver Mark Winterbottom in their impressive Melbourne based stable.
Warburton said smaller engines would not mean less noise with a promise to keep the sport loud and aggressive despite a consumer shift to quitter, less fuel thirsty machines.
“It is imperative to keep the sport relevant to the current environment, entertaining and, critically, viable for the race teams,” Warburton said.
“The current climate in world motorsport is absolutely clear. Manufacturers want choice in what they go racing with, otherwise they won’t participate. They want their DNA represented and so do we. We will not compromise our DNA — fast, loud and fierce racing.”
“The sheer brute power and sound of V8 Supercars is synonymous with the sport. A key area will be retaining the acoustic effect of high powered race cars no matter the engine or make.”
