2011 V8 Supercars

Philip Antonia · Apr 19, 2011

Georgios Davakos said:
MotorsTV show V8 time to time but it's not that often that it's live.

As Georgios said MotorsTv show it here in the UK, but it's shown the weekend after. I think they're uncut coverage though and it's very good:good:. Just a pain trying to avoid the results for a whole week!!!

ufunacaoenn · Apr 19, 2011

Then I suggest not having RD's front page to your favorites but there forum because I am sure someone will start writing articles about V8 so watch out.

Ben Buitendijk · Apr 19, 2011

You can watch it on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/user/V8SupercarsChannel

Watched the races on Hamilton there yesterday

Günthar Rowe · Apr 26, 2011

Well, maybe New Zealand is becoming the test bed for the new rules with the newly announced 2012 V8 SuperTourers:

V8SUPERTOURERS LTD is a company formed by current NZV8 team owners Mark Petch, Wayne Anderson and Garry Pedersen.

The aim of the company is to build an affordable new generation, future-proofed V8 touring car, similar in concept to a current Australian V8 Supercar but at less than half the cost. The V8SuperTourer is designed to have performance similar to that of a current Australian V8 Supercar and is specifically designed for both sprint and long distance, enduro style racing with its 120-litre capacity fuel cell.

Designed and built by Paul Ceprnich, of Pace Innovations Australia, the prototype utilises a VE Commodore body mounted on a purpose-built monocoque chassis. The monocoque chassis, like the Australian V8 Supercar car of the future or COFT project, is built to not only accommodate both the current VE Commodore and FG Falcon bodies, but any other similar sized four-dour production vehicle such a Toyota Camry, BMW 5 series, etc. Interested vehicle manufacturers of four-door saloon cars of a similar size to the Holden VE and Ford FG models can apply for homologation to race in the V8SuperTourier series.

The V8SuperTourer utilises a strictly-controlled, one make, all-alloy, fuel injected and dry sumped 7-litre V8 ST engine. The power-plant is derived from the Le Mans C6R Corvette programme and hand-built in America. It delivers some 550hp at 6,800rpm and is expected to have a racing life of 10,000 racing kilometres before requiring maintenance. This engine is identical to that of the Mosler Automotives current and very successful GT3 sports-car.

The drive-train consists of a triple-plate clutch, which delivers engine torque through a Quaife 6-speed sequential transmission via a two-piece pro-shaft feeding a classic 9 Ford differential, which is fitted with a Torsen-style limited slip, crown wheel carrier assembly in order to provide excellent traction in most conditions.

The rear suspension adopts the proven, yet simple in design and maintenance, three-link live rear axle fitted with camber and toe, CV style, floating rear hubs.

The front suspension is a sophisticated clean sheet, double wishbone layout that is also cleverly symmetrical from left to right, thus reducing spares inventories, etc. Both the front and rear suspension oscillations are dampened by adjustable bump and rebound shock absorbers fitted with adjustable spring platforms.

The rack and pinion power steering assembly is mounted ahead of the engine in order to better optimise the front suspension geometry and the high loads generated under long distance racing events.

The V8SuperTourer uses 11x18 forged alloy wheels carrying 280 x 680 x 18 racing slicks or wet weather radial tyres.

The brake rotors are, in the front, 355mm ventilated and 328 mm in the rear, fitted with forged billet alloy brake callipers and F1 style brake-ducting. The brake package combines to stop the comparatively light car, which has an all up weight, including driver, of less than 1,300kg.

Gone are the days when you can buy the car on Monday that won on Sunday. But you have to understand the what happened in the past and whats happening in the present to understand why we have what we have today.

1. Racing was interesting in the past but it only took one manufacturer (Ford Sierra, Nissan Skyline)to decide that they wanted to win the series at all costs to effectively turn it into a one make series.

2. Safety is now paramount. The vehicles are built the way they are today with the big roll cages to protect the drivers. In the past, it was not uncommon for someone to die at a motorsporting event.

3. Motorsport is very expensive. Its just cheaper to build a purpose built race car from the in-side-out with 'production racing car parts' than it is to build a modified road car out-side-in with 'customised road car parts'

4. The technology used to design, validate and produce cars for the road is now very comprehensive. Road cars are optimised for the road, not the race track. Any manufacture involvment in racing these days is usually for marketing, not technical development.

5. Motor racing, like most sporting events needs to be run as a business for it to make money and therefore survive. If you are a real motor racing fan, you would know that there is still plenty of grass roots racing around at club level. But for what ever reason, most people in this country prefer to watch V8 Supercars. Motor sport now as a mainstream sport is the most popular it has ever been. Before, only the enthusiast were interested-V8 racing fan

Kyle Constable · Apr 27, 2011

Really, There are no major touring car series' anymore, Touring Cars are road cars modified to race. What V8 Supercars and really all TC championships are now are purpose-built Race Cars, built for the sole purpose of racing. The only difference is B/S/J/WTCC use models that are bought by families because they're cheap and economical, V8SC use models that are desired to be driven by people who like cars, have you ever desired a Cruze or Volvo? To a point, DTM is the same as V8SC, in that they use models that people want to drive, rather than need, but really, the touring part of DTM is misplaced, DRM would probably be more suited. It's a GT/Prototype series in the same way Super GT is.

Juen-Jen Wang · Apr 29, 2011

Warren Dawes said:
I actually agree with you completely Rhys, but sadly that seems to be the way V8 Supercar Racing is headed. It will be interesting to see who else might join the new format. So far I have only read that BMW may be interested.

Lets not forget the CoTF plan has so far failed to bring in more manufacturers as of now. Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes, Honda have all denied interest in participation. BMW recently said they weren't interested at all. However, there's nothing stopping privateer teams from using something other than a Ford/Holden once CoTF comes into full effect. Although I still think we'll just see Fords and Holdens for the next 5 years... heck maybe eventually it'll just be only Holdens.

V8 Supercar is interestingly leaning more towards stock cars now rather than touring cars with the entire highly controlled interior.

Ryan Callan · Apr 29, 2011

Juen-Jen Wang said:
V8 Supercar is interestingly leaning more towards stock cars now rather than touring cars with the entire highly controlled interior.

V8 Supercar officials have vehemently denied this.

Philip Antonia · Apr 30, 2011

I have little knowledge of the COTF, but why mess with something that works so well. I've loved and I'm still loving the V8 Supercars because they're different. It doesn't matter if there's just Ford and Holden. These things are awesome to watch and I'd love to see them in action in real life!! That last round at Hamilton in the wet was fantastic. You really had to admire the drivers skill in keeping these beasts under control in those conditions:good:.

William Levesque · Apr 30, 2011

I just hope they don't bring paddle shifters !

P.S. Front wheel drive V8 Supercars ? WTF ???

Rhys Gardiner · Apr 30, 2011

Wiliam, the switch to front wheel drive is talking about the road Falcon, not the V8 Supercar.

William Levesque · Apr 30, 2011

0.o

Oh well, that's encouraging XD

But a FWD Falcon ? Let me laugh...

Rhys Gardiner · Apr 30, 2011

Such is life in the car industry. In this day and age, a car produced for just one country's market by a global manufacturer is just not financially feasible.