As of 2012 the rules will change to allow other manufacturers to enter the v8 Championship. Mercedes,BMW,Audi,Nissan and Kia-Hyundai are the possibilities. Is it time to move on ??. or persevere with the current formate ???. Technology MUST come eventually.
Your thoughts.
Pete.C | 09:15AM - March 12th 2010
Multi-valve,Quad Overhead Cams,Live axle rear ends all come to mind.
david young | 12:42PM - March 12th 2010
i think it should stay the way it is some people say we should have more manufacturers in the series but i love ford vs holden rivraley even other people i have asked about it have said the same thing so dont fix something that isnt broken
Mark Pullen | 12:58PM - March 12th 2010
I think the results of Nissan's attempt to win over the public with a 10 year campaign on Australian motorsport speaks loudly enough. They had a car that dominated by 1991, and still they were booed, and then banished because their technology was too superior.
To compete in V8 Supercars currently, a manufacturer would need a V8 sedan. Large sedan sales are slowing as people realise the fuel crisis we will face in the future. However, if the formula was to change to smaller cars, would the V8 faithful follow? They didn't like Super Tourers, and I doubt a round of the WTCC in Australia would get high attendance numbers.
Besides Holden and Ford, Toyota would be the most likely of manufacturers to join, especially now as they're out of F1. They'd still need a RWD V8 car to compete under current standards, but given their success in NASCAR on and off the track, they'd be most likely. Mercedes and Audi heavily invest in the DTM and F1/Le Mans, BMW does WTCC, Nissan does FIA GT and Super GT in Japan, and Suzuki and Hyundai are more suited to the WRC. Racing would be too expensive for Kia I expect.
As for technology coming on, we're still racing cars very similar to those that raced in the 70s. After the ATCC tried to evolve through Group A in the 80s, the fans really wanted V8s to return in the 90s, and here we at the end of the 00s with few changes. I think Production Class racing would be better to promote, as manufacturers have more marketing opportunities, however manufacturers are selective as to how the car actually performs - if it races poorly then there will be negative associations and likely fewer sales.
Danny Bloodworth | 07:09PM - March 12th 2010
Every race day people come to my house and watch the races , not one person really cares what team wins , sure we all have our favorites but at the end of the day Its holden vs ford and that is the bottom line, if toyota or merc ect came into v8 supercars no one is going to go for them as long as holden and ford are racing , we as australians have a huge connection with these brands we all love our xw xy's ,hq wb's ect we see a holden or ford muscle car and we can relate to it .The sport is going to be ruined this is our motor racing not the worlds its v8 supercars AUSTRALIA ,races should be in Australia not bloody china, singapore or the middle east ,and we should not be dictated to by a group of so called expert officials who think they know better ,anyway thats my two cents.........
Brian Jeffreys | 12:53AM - March 13th 2010
tricky topic, V8SCA has never been as big as it is now in crowd attendances and in viewing ratings aswell as the fact that ther is lots of company's linning up to use V8 teams to advertise there products, so the old saying if it aint broke don't fix it springs to mind.
Mark in question to KIA, it is part of Hyandai and my understanding is if V8SCA does push into Singapor which my understanding is they want to they are definitly interested in the marketing posibilities that could arise from running a team, i personaly dont think Merc or BMW would join but could see Toyota or Nissan considering it all manufactures would have to comply with the COTF program which from my understandin could eventualy include a control chassis but as far as the cosmetic side of things (exterior panels) it would be a lot harder to keep some form of parity between the makes like we see today with both Ford and Holden both verry equal and capable of winning races (although 888 seems to be a lil bit further along in development than some other teams, fingers crossed Frosty's recent mods put them in front),
If other manufactures are alowed in i would like to see a cap on particular makes eg say no maore than 4 manufacture's and no more than 9 cars eg Ford FPR- 3 cars DJR 3 cars SBR 3 cars, Holden HRT/ Wilkonshaw 4 cars, 888 2 cars, PMM 2 cars, Toyota KR 4 cars BJR 3 cars and maybe the likes of FFF an Dalburto ect in the other manufacturer just examples but you get the point somethin from lettin any one manufacturer have over 50% of the field an the other 50% divided amongst 2 or three manufactures.
I know Jasson Bright was keen on the idea when it was first spoke of there are deffinitly a few teams that are loyal to the current manufactures obviously HRT/Wilkonshaw will always be holden FPR, SBR , and good old DJR i could not see ever changing the rest not so sure on *** have changed before so you never no......
Alister | 10:36AM - March 13th 2010
Keep it as it is....but Ford in Front!
Steve Marshall | 06:51PM - March 14th 2010
Personally I'd hate to see a format change. Ford/Holden is a winner on both sides of the Tasman and growing internationally to change now could be a negative to the whole sport.
myname | 08:10AM - March 15th 2010
If the current 19 Holdens v 10 fords continues, then yes id be happy for a change... Seeing Holden trying to buy
a championship is getting boring... In its current format , it looks more like a holden competions ( similar to HQ racing) ...
either even the feild up or bring in others to make it more interesting
Pete.C | 05:44PM - March 15th 2010
I honestly feel for the sake of the sport that it does need more manufacturer's. By doing this brands like Ford can pool their resources and have that long awaited Mega team under the one banner.
Darrel Newton | 12:29PM - March 20th 2010
Ford/Holden is good when they let others in namely Nissan it became a walk over.For me if others are allowed in then they would have to use same size SOHC engines no multi valves quad cams etc.MMMMMMMMMMMMMM damn can't think of any Jap or Euro cars that would fit the bill.End of story.
Fordlova8 | 07:33PM - March 24th 2010
The "car of the future" is coming in 2012 and from what i can gather the only difference will be a badge and the panel work "nascar" springs to mind. BORING!
If that happens any manufacturer could enter. But watch the spectators dwindle.
Aaron Ivory | 06:35PM - March 28th 2010
It's going to be very interesting over the next couple of yrs in regards to this topic. What this will do is show many holden teams what they are worth to that company. I can only see those teams being poached while Holden focus their $$$ into 888 and Tool racing. I guess it'll also show us How committed Ford are in racing in Australia and how they can keep these 10 cars on the track. I think there is more to lose on the RED side though. Maybe 888 will accept big bickies from Nissan if they win the next couple of titles. I'm getting excited just to see McNamara's face if this Happens.Lol
Brian Jeffreys | 10:04PM - March 29th 2010
i think ford will retain the three 3 car teams i could see fff been recruited to another manufacture DJR has said it would stay with Ford as it knows where its fan base comes from obviously FPR will always be Ford an i dare say same with SBR
Rochelle Rendell | 08:35PM - April 4th 2010
I think this is wrong. Do we, in Autralia let 3 sides take 2 d field in football, cricket & soccer???? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Mark G | 03:24PM - April 15th 2010
I cant see the bavarian commdores, and Audi's wanting any possibilty to be beaten by falcons or the other mob. Thats not going to look real flash for their sales teams. God forbid a dirty stinking Hyundi or Kia, what Falcon, commodore and Carnival ?? imagine if they won "Sonata wins Bathurst" the mind boggles. Iam trying to picture a Camry going over 80 kays at all, they cant do it on the streets as the job of a Camry is to hold as many cars up as possible and to do at least 20kays slower any were any time. As many others before have said, if its not broken why fix it ?
Brandon Overton | 10:47PM - October 8th 2010
I think the sport needs a new manufacturer to stay alive but i think whatever company joins should stay at the back of the pack.
Brandon Overton | 09:30PM - October 24th 2010
The latest News is that BMW are very close to making up their minds wether they will join or not.