2010 V8 Supercars

[Rhys Gardiner]

Due to unrealistic demands imposed on V8 Supercars' governing body by the management of Queensland Raceway, the track known as "The Paperclip" has not been guaranteed a spot on the 2010 roster.
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The spot that was to be taken up by the Queensland 400 is now provisional, meaning that there is not much of a chance of the track being raced on this season. High hire fees imposed by John Tetley, QR's manager, have forced V8 Supercars Australia to forego closing a deal for 2010. V8SA listed such things as highly unrealistic demands compared with the state of the track's facilities, and QR's unwillingness to obtain a CAMS license to sanction the event, as reasons for the deal being called off.

Tony Cochrane, the Chairman of V8 Supercars Australia, expressed frustration at QR Management's unco-operative stance, suggesting that V8SA should work with the Queensland government to build an entirely new facility, free from the non-compliance demonstrated by Queensland Raceway, to keep jobs in the state.

Full story here

 

[Ryan Callan]

This is in RDV8SC TotD thread but thought I'd post it here too

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has offered to step in and revive the cancelled Queensland Raceway round of the upcoming V8 Supercar season. However, Tony Cochrane (chairman of V8SA) and John Tetley (operator of Queensland Raceway) both maintain that the event will not be going ahead.
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Pisasale has proposed that he and the Ipswich council lease the racetrack off Tetley and hire it out again to the V8 Supercars under terms which may be more agreeable. But Cochrane has stood by his claim that there will not be an event at Queensland Raceway in 2010.

Tetley was allegedly after a five year deal, a change from the usual year-by-year negotiations for the event, but Tony Cochrane was unwilling to secure the deal over claims that the terms set by Tetley were unrealistic. As a result the Queensland Raceway event has not been able to go ahead.

Full story here

 

[Warren Dawes]

Tony Cochran has been itching to scrap the QLD Raceway event for some time now, so I doubt there will be any hope at all.
He now has heaps of QLD Government money going into the Surfers Paradise Event, so that will get priority.

Yet another permanent Racetrack left to die while the tax payers fund these one off street circuits. Unfortunately, that is the pattern of Australian motor racing now. The same thing will happen soon at Barbagello Rhys.

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

As far as Barbagallo is concerned Warren, it's already happened. There are enough street circuits on the calendar as it is... we need to bring in more proper racetracks, either through upgrading of the circuits or proper deal-making. I am hoping with all my heart that Barby will make a return some day... maybe along with another circuit in WA, permanent or street. I mean, seriously... all other states (not icluding territories) have at least 2 rounds each.

Personally, if QR doesn't return again (and Tony says it will if they can agree a deal) I won't miss it. It's an uninteresting, uninspired scrawl on a flat piece of land. Good riddance, I say.

 

[Warren Dawes]

Personally, if QR doesn't return again (and Tony says it will if they can agree a deal) I won't miss it. It's an uninteresting, uninspired scrawl on a flat piece of land. Good riddance, I say.

Rhys, QR may be a bit flat and dull, but from a spectator viewpoint, it is one of the very few permanent tracks where you can see almost all of the track. Have you been to a street track to spectate, you plonk yourself at one spot and watch the cars race past that spot, then wait to see them again as they scream past that spot next lap. You hope something interesting might happen at that point, but you miss the overall perspective of the actual race. ("Gee, Tander is no longer leading, I wonder what happened?") They are only made for TV viewing, not for the spectators (except for the additional facilities such as merchandising, rock bands etc).
Yep, I'm not a fan of street circuits.

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

Today, the announcement was made that Martin Whitaker would become the new CEO of V8 Supercars Australia for the next four years.

Whitaker is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain International Circuit, and boasts 25 years of experience in world motorsport. Previously he has worked for Formula One Management, been the Director of Motorsport at the Ford Motor Company, and worked at McLaren International, as well as working for two FIA Presidents.
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Whitaker will take up the position as CEO of V8SA after the Bahrain Grand Prix, moving to the Gold Coast in April and taking up his new appointment.

With Whitaker's appointment as CEO comes many announcements and changes made to V8 Supercars, such as sponsorship, media and TV deals, the intention to double the size of the sport and business according to Tony Cochrane, and the new Car of the Future regulations looming for next year.

2010 is looking to be one of the most exciting V8 Supercar seasons yet.

Full story here

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

It was announced earlier today that the V8 Supercars, as part of a Middle Eastern double-header to kick off the 2010 season, will use the full F1 layout of the Bahrain International circuit at the Desert 400 - to the delight of the drivers.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

James Courtney and Will Davison expressed their apparent happiness at being allowed to drive the same layout that Formula One uses for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Courtney said that it was "A bit of a tease" when he passed the extension while racing at Bahrain in recent years, and Davison believes that the new layout will open up more passing opportunities, describing it as a "Technical and fun part of the circuit".

Since the Desert 400's inception in 2006, the V8 Supercars have taken an alternate route, turning sharply right after turn 3 and completely bypassing the circuit's north-east loop before using the rest of the track as normal. With the series now racing on the full Grand Prix layout, laptimes are expected to jump to over two minutes in length - as well as two new potential overtaking opportunities being added.

Full story here

 

[Unregistered]

The V8 Supercars could get their own pit area and a proper championship round at the Australian Grand Prix.

V8SA chairman Tony Cochrane said that the possibility of holding a second street race in Melbourne, to allow championship points to be available, had been ruled out so as not to upset relationships with Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Cochrane went on to say that the portable nature of the Sydney 500 pit building (used at Homebush at the end of last season) raised hopes of the V8 Supercar series getting its own pits area, and a series of major events at the GP weekend.

This could mean that the V8 Supercar races at the AGP would no longer be non-championship, exhibition races; instead being proper events which would count for points in the overall championship standings.

Full story here

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom has confirmed that he will drive for Ford Performance Racing until 2013 - and says he's going for the championship.

"Frosty" said today that he was pleased to confirm a three-year extension of his contract with FPR, and is quoted as saying that he is "Hungrier than ever to become V8 Supercar champions [with FPR]."[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Winterbottom's decision to stay with FPR, and his engineer Campbell Little staying on as well, means that Ford may retain a chance of beating Holden in 2010 - but with Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup making the jump to the Red Tribe with Team Vodafone, and two-thirds of the grid consisting of Holdens, that will be no mean feat.

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

The Holden Racing Team unveiled its 2010 livery this morning. The new paintjob is inspired by HRT's 2008 Bathurst livery and marks a return to a deeper red colour scheme.

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, HRT ran with a Day-Glo-coloured livery, their cars appearing orange - almost pink. The coloured sections of the livery were used to form stylised representations of the Holden lion.
Now, the deep, rich red scheme - the change almost being reminiscent of Ferrari's F1 livery in 2007 - dominates the car's bonnet and sides, with sponsorship from Toll and Australian fast food chain Red Rooster, with thick black highlights.

At the livery's launch, held at Holden's Port Melbourne facility, drivers Garth Tander and Will Davison said that their goal was to reclaim the V8 Supercar drivers championship.
“We appreciate what we achieved, but Will and I are not resting on our laurels," Tander said.

One thing is for sure: if HRT indeed win this season, they'll look good doing it.

 

[Ryan Callan]

I prefer the 2009 livery personally

 

[Warren Dawes]

Bit hard to tell from only seeing the front view.

 

[Ryan Callan]

There's a couple more pics at speedcafe.com.au

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Looks mighty agressive from the front, very nice!

 

[Ryan Callan]

Kelly Racing have unveiled their new car too -

 

[Ryan Callan]

Other pics of the HRT 2010 skin

View attachment 21563View attachment 21564View attachment 21565

 

[Warren Dawes]

Thanks Ryan, I rather like it, quite bold and more striking.

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

V8 Supercar drivers Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, Paul Dumbrell and Mark Winterbottom travelled to Abu Dhabi over the weekend to get a taster of the Yas Marina Circuit.

Aside from being driven around the new Middle Eastern facility in a Minardi two-seater open wheeler, they also competed in water sports activities and met Australian delegates and expatriates who will be promoting the event, which takes place next month.
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The four drivers were very impressed with the Yas Marina Circuit, Whincup saying the following about the track:

“If people ask me what is the most technical part of the track I’ll be telling them from turn one right the way around to the last turn.”

Dumbrell noted similarities to various Australian tracks, saying "You’ve got the corkscrew and undulation, which is like our cherished Bathurst track, then there’s a bit of Indy and a bit of Adelaide."

It certainly seems that the drivers are looking forward to the inaugural Yas V8 400, which will be held on the weekend of February18-20.

Full story here

 

[Ryan Callan]

Stone Brothers Racing revealed their 2010 liveries during a charity cocktail event at it's workshop in Queensland.

Like last year, the #4 car of Alex Davison will be sponsored by Irwin and the #9 of Shane van Gisbergen by SP Tools. New to the fold is the #47 of Tim Slade. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Wilson Security have been brought across from Paul Cruickshank Racing to be the main sponsor of Tim's car, with Lucky7 adorning the bonnet, as well as the supermarket chain adorning the rear quarters of the team's other two cars.

Fuchs are another sponsor brought across from an expired team, moving from Sprint Gas Racing to the front quarters of the team's main two cars.