2012 V8 Supercars Discussion

REVISED - My unknows are SBR and GRM

Holden Racing Team/Walkinshaw Racing: HOLDEN
#2- Garth Tander- Toll
#22- James Courtney- Toll
#66- Russell Ingall-Supercheap Auto
w/
Tony D'Alberto Racing: HOLDEN
#3- Tony D'Alberto-Hiflex Mobile Hose Services


Stone Brothers/Erebus Motorsport: MERCEDES
#4- Lee Holdsworth- IRWIN Tools
#9- ??? - SP Tools
#47- Tim Slade- Monster Energy

Ford Performance Racing: FORD
#5- Mark Winterbottom- Pepsi Max
#6- Will Davison- Pepsi Max
#55- David Reynolds- The Bottle O
#56- Chaz Mostert - Supercharge

Nissan Motorsport/Kelly Racing: NISSAN
#7- Todd Kelly-Jack Daniel's/Nissan
#15- Rick Kelly-Jack Daniel's/Nissan
#11- James Moffat- Norton
#16- Michael Caruso- Norton

Brad Jones Racing:HOLDEN
#8- Jason Bright-Boc
#14- Fabian Coulthard-Lockwood
#21- David Wall-Wilson Security

Dick Johnston Racing: FORD
#17- Steven Johnson -Crimsafe/Coke Zero or Ezi finance
#18- Dean Fiore - Crimsafe/Coke Zero or Ezi finance
(+2 Ezi Finance Cars in Dunlop Series)

Tekno Autosports: HOLDEN
#19- Jonathan Webb-Mother
#51- Scott McLaughlin

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport: HOLDEN
#30- Scott Pye-iSelect.com.au
#49- Steve Owen -V.I.P Petfoods (PM to co-drive)

Garry Rogers Motorsport: HOLDEN
#33- Alexandre Premat-Fujitsu/Valvoline
#34- ??? -Fujitsu/Valvoline

Triple Eight Race Engineering: HOLDEN
#88- Jamie Whincup-Red Bull
#888- Craig Lowndes-Red Bull

I saw the Nissan Altima V8Supercar. It's pretty damn awesome if I do say myself

After seeing the vodafone car on track i thought it looked really good. Then they put the slicks back on.....Never have i preyed for rain as much as i have today. Silver rims look kickass with the livery the red not so much. I hope bright feels like a friggin numpty after having a whinge after abu dhabi and then proceeding to drive like the drivers he was crying about only two meets ago. Also hopefully premat recovers in time for tomorrow he had looked better today than he has all year the poor bugger

Drivers look ahead to new V8 Supercars era

The curtain may have only just fallen on the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship, but the category’s leading drivers are already looking ahead to the new Car of the Future era that will kick-off next season.

The introduction of the COTF marks the biggest technical shake-up to hit the championship in 20 years, and will make for a hectic Christmas period as teams ready their new contenders.



The incoming manufacturers Nissan and Mercedes-Benz bring with them double overhead cam engine technology, while all of the new cars will feature larger wheels and tyres, independent rear suspension, a transaxle gearbox, a mid-mounted fuel cell and a control chassis/roll-cage design.

Following great delays in firming the details of the technical package, five teams have already put their new generation cars on track, with three of those – Triple Eight, Ford Performance Racing and Kelly Racing – cutting demonstration laps of the Homebush circuit at the weekend.

Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and Rick Kelly had the duty of driving the respective cars around the punishing street course. Despite only completing a handful of laps, the now four-time champion Whincup managed to circulate within a second of the fastest time that a current car completed all weekend and was left highly encouraged by the experience.



“Our testing (at Queensland Raceway) has been quite interrupted and I had mixed emotions (about the COTF), but driving the car yesterday, it makes me really excited that these cars are going to be really good things,” he said afterward.

“I did a 1m28.4s, ragging it, bashing it off the kerbs. They are going to handle the street circuits really well and be fun to drive.”

The brief Sydney outing marked Kelly’s first laps in the Altima, which has so far completed just one shakedown and a five-day V8 Supercars aerodynamic testing program.

Running with its aero testing suspension and without the use of sixth gear, Kelly was forced to drive rather more conservatively than Whincup and Winterbottom, but said he enjoyed the experience all the same.

“The seating position in the car is a bit different, but apart from that, it already feels like home,” he said.

“It’s all working well and the guys back at the team, along with the help from Nissan, have been able to help us produce a good car in a very short time frame.

“With that little taste, I’m looking forward to getting into a real test.”



While it’s hard to expect Kelly’s new Nissan and the Erebus-SBR Mercedes entries to be competitive from the start of the campaign, the dominance of Triple Eight and FPR, which shared all 30 race wins during the 2012 season, looks likely to be challenged by a revitalised Holden Racing Team.

Like Triple Eight and FPR, the HRT has already completed its initial allocation of two ‘manufacturer’ test days with its first car – running that has left its high-profile driver James Courtney optimistic for the future.

“For me, when I jumped in, straight away it was a lot more to my liking and it’s a more natural way of driving,” said Courtney, who has famously taken just one victory since joining the team as the defending champion in 2011.

“There’s little characteristics that we can’t make this car do that I couldn’t make do with the other one. With the Car of the Future, it’s a lot more down that path. You can drive the car, as opposed to the current car which you have to stop-start – drive it on its nose rather than flow it.

“I’m pumped. Thank god I don’t have to drive the current car anymore and I can get on with the new one. I think you’ll find we’ll take a big step towards the front guys and hopefully we can start on a level playing field next year.”

Pepsi Max joins Ford factory squad

Ford Performance Racing will sport the backing of Pepsi Max on its factory Fords for the next three years.

The deal will see the factory Falcons of Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison become the Pepsi Max Crew FPR Fords.

Pepsi had been the principal sponsor on Greg Murphy’s #51 Commodore at Kelly Racing for the past two seasons.

Unlike the level of signage space offered on Murphy’s car, the new deal is expected to see Pepsi Max adorn only the flanks of the Falcons, due to the team’s collection of current corporate partners.

PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand Marketing Director, Kim McConnie believes linking with Ford’s factory team takes the company’s V8 Supercars involvement to a new level.

“Joining the V8 Supercars has been a huge success for Pepsi Max and we’re thrilled to now be teaming up with Ford Performance Racing for the next three years,” McConnie said.

“We’ve always talked about our commitment to motorsport in Australia and this new deal is further justification of that. We are looking forward to a very strong year in 2013 and beyond.”

FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards is delighted the team has been able to secure the support of such an iconic international brand.

“It is with great pleasure we announce a three-year partnership with PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand which will see Ford’s two primary factory cars race under the Pepsi Max banner,” Edwards said.

“The Pepsi Max brand is instantly recognisable the world over and the whole team is looking forward to working with a brand that brings innovation and excitement to everything it does.

“It will be the first time in the team’s history we’ve had the same title sponsor on both cars and the partnership provides us with a chance for a fresh approach and a new look at a time when we are also introducing a whole new car. This is the start of an exciting new era for everyone involved.”

The team will reveal its new look at its season launch on Thursday, February 7 in Melbourne.

I look in this thread hoping to see some decent chat, but every time all I see is something i seen on speedcafe hours earlier... Sighhh

sempeR wrote:I look in this thread hoping to see some decent chat, but every time all I see is something i seen on speedcafe hours earlier... Sighhh

And your point is ?
I don't see you adding any "decent chat" to this thread... Sighhh

JamieWhincup#1 wrote:

sempeR wrote:I look in this thread hoping to see some decent chat, but every time all I see is something i seen on speedcafe hours earlier... Sighhh

And your point is ?
I don't see you adding any "decent chat" to this thread... Sighhh

Its good for those who dont check speed cafe that often - ie: me

If clarko didn't put the speedcafe stuff up then i for one wouldn't have any ammo to bombard all the guys at work with. I am after all the annoying apprentice ha ha.

I thought Speed Cafe was where you got drugs and coffee from. So thankyou Clarko for the useful info.

i get dissapointed when i see news thats a few hours old

try m.speedcafe.com on your mobile.easy.

Update:
Bold - confirmed
Italic - speculated/my guess

Triple Eight Race Engineering
#1 Jamie Whincup - Team Red Bull Holden Commodore VF
#888 Craig Lowndes - Team Red Bull Holden Commodore VF


Holden Racing Team
#2 Garth Tander - Toll/Rockstar Holden Commodore VF
#22 James Courtney - Toll/Rockstar Holden Commodore VF
#66 Russell Ingall - Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VF (Walkinshaw Racing)

Tony D'Alberto Racing - HRT
#3 Tony D'Alberto - Team Hiflex Holden Commodore VF


SBR-Erebus Racing
#4 Lee Holdsworth - IRWIN Racing Mercedes AMG E63
#9 Joroen Bleekemolen - SP Tools Racing Mercedes AMG E63
#47 Tim Slade - Team 7Eleven/Snap-On Mercedes AMG E63 (James Rosenberg Racing)


Ford Performance Racing
#5 Mark Winterbottom - Pepsi Max Crew Ford Falcon FG2
#6 Will Davison - Pepsi Max Crew Ford Falcon FG2
#55 David Reynolds - Bottle-O Racing Ford Falcon FG2 (Rod Nash Racing)
#56 Alex Davison - Dunlop/TEAC Ford Falcon FG2 (Charlie Schwerkolt Racing)


Nissan Motorsport
#7 Todd Kelly - Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima
#11 James Moffat - Team Norton Nissan Altima
#15 Rick Kelly - Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima
#16 Michael Caruso - Team Norton Nissan Altima


Brad Jones Racing
#8 Jason Bright - Team BOC Holden Commodore VF
#14 Fabian Coulthard - Lockwood Racing Holden Commodore VF
#51 Greg Murphy - Castrol/Powerbuilt Racing Holden Commodore VF (Britek Motorsport)



Dick Johnson Racing
#17 Steven Johnson - Shell/Crimsafe Racing Ford Falcon FG2
#18 Steve Owen - VIP Petfoods/FinanceEZI Racing Ford Falcon FG2 (Triple F Racing)


Tekno Autosports
#19 Jonathon Webb - Team Mother/Subway Holden Commodore VF
#91 Karl Reindler - Fair Dinkem Sheds Holden Commodore VF


Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport
#30 Scott Pye - Team iSelect Holden Commodore VF
#31 David Wall - Wilson Security Racing Holden Commodore VF


Garry Rogers Motorsport
#33 Alex Premat - Fujitsu Racing Holden Commodore VF
#34 Scott McLaughlin - Fujitsu Racing Holden Commodore VF

My New list:

Bold - confirmed
Italic - speculated/my guess

Triple Eight Race Engineering
#1 Jamie Whincup - Team Red Bull Holden Commodore VF
#888 Craig Lowndes - Team Red Bull Holden Commodore VF


Holden Racing Team
#2 Garth Tander - Toll/Rockstar Holden Commodore VF
#22 James Courtney - Toll/Rockstar Holden Commodore VF
#66 Russell Ingall - Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VF (Walkinshaw Racing)

Tony D'Alberto Racing - HRT
#3 Tony D'Alberto - Team Hiflex Holden Commodore VF


SBR-Erebus Racing
#4 Lee Holdsworth - IRWIN Racing Mercedes AMG E63
#9 Chaz Mostert - SP Tools Racing Mercedes AMG E63
#47 Tim Slade - Lucky 7/Snap-On Mercedes AMG E63 (James Rosenberg Racing)


Ford Performance Racing
#5 Mark Winterbottom - Pepsi Max Crew Ford Falcon FG2
#6 Will Davison - Pepsi Max Crew Ford Falcon FG2
#55 David Reynolds - Bottle-O Racing Ford Falcon FG2 (Rod Nash Racing)
#18 Alex Davison - Monster Energy Ford Falcon FG2 (Charlie Schwerkolt Racing)


Nissan Motorsport
#7 Todd Kelly - Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima
#11 James Moffat - Team Norton Nissan Altima
#15 Rick Kelly - Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima
#16 Michael Caruso - Team Norton Nissan Altima


Brad Jones Racing
#8 Jason Bright - Team BOC Holden Commodore VF
#14 Fabian Coulthard - Lockwood Racing Holden Commodore VF
#21 Nick Percat - Coates Hire Racing Holden Commodore VF (Britek Motorsport) On loan from Walkinshaw Racing same as Fabian.



Dick Johnson Racing
#17 Steven Johnson - Shell/Crimsafe Racing Ford Falcon FG2
#12 Karl Reindler - Fair Dinkum Sheds Ford Falcon FG2 (Triple F Racing)


Tekno Autosports
#19 Jonathon Webb - Sargent Security Holden Commodore VF
#91 Steve Owen - VIP Petfoods Holden Commodore VF


Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport
#30 Scott Pye - Team iSelect Holden Commodore VF
#31 David Wall - Wilson Security Racing Holden Commodore VF


Garry Rogers Motorsport
#33 Alex Premat - Fujitsu Racing Holden Commodore VF
#34 Scott McLaughlin - Fujitsu Racing Holden Commodore VF[/quote]

McLaughlin confirmed, I hope Premat stays at grm.

sempeR wrote:McLaughlin confirmed, I hope Premat stays at grm.

I also think that Premat deserves another go. The new cars will be a bit more like what he used to drive and he won't have to learn all the tracks again.

Oh god...double file restarts for next year.

Thoughts everyone?

sempeR wrote:Oh god...double file restarts for next year.

Thoughts everyone?

Chaos!

YAY!

id rather they close the Frig pit lane under safety car

V8 Supercars have released the race formats for the 2013 season, and after a couple of years of continuity the rule-makers have had a very big tinker.


The biggest changes are the introduction of a "60/60 Super Sprint" format for six events and double-file restarts from Safety Car periods.
The '60/60' concept will see the ditching of mid-race refueling, as the field compete in four sprint races across the weekend.
Saturday's track action consist of two 60-kilometre races, split by a 15-minute 'half time' break.
Qualifying will determine the starting positions for the for the 'first half', while the results from that sprint will dictate the grid for the 'second half'. Championship points will only be awarded at the end of the 'second half'.
The Sunday of the 60/60 Super Sprint rounds will see the V8 field compete of a pair of 120 kilometre races, where the grid will be set by a pair of 15-minute qualifying sessions.
This format be in force at Symmons Plains, Barbagallo, Hidden Valley, Queensland Raceway, Winton, and Phillip Island. The Hidden Valley race will also feature a top-ten qualifying shootout on the Saturday.

As for the other events on the calendar, it's as-you-were for the Adelaide, Townsville, Sandown, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sydney rounds, while the formats for Pukekohe, Abu Dhabi, and V8 Supercars US debut in Texas will be locked-in next year.
The introduction of double-file restarts sees V8 Supercars take a page out of NASCAR and IndyCar's books.
Under the new procedure, the leader will only be able to accelerate "in a designated zone past the start-finish line," according to a statement from V8 Supercars.
Shane Howard, V8 Supercars chief operations officer for Events and Motorsport, said the format changes are the most significant in the history of the sport.
"These changes are purely designed for the teams and drivers to race hard and fight for every position," Howard said.
"With the new marques joining Ford and Holden in 2013 it was an opportunity for a change across the board while continuing the great traditions of our signature events."
The new V8 Supercars Championship Series season gets underway in March at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

No-Refueling, awesome. more shit boring economy racing

Alex Davison secures fourth FPR seat

Alex Davison has been confirmed as the driver of Ford Performance Racing’s fourth entry in next year’s V8 Supercars Championship.

In a statement released by the factory Ford team this morning, Davison, 33, will drive the #18 Charlie Schwerkolt Racing Falcon, prepared by FPR.

As first reported by Speedcafe.com, Davison’s place in the expanded FPR squad will place him alongside his younger brother Will, who drives one of the team’s official factory entries.

Speedcafe.com understands that Davison’s deal to drive for Schwerkolt is for one season. He will get his first test with the team tomorrow (Tuesday) during FPR’s three-car test at Winton.

It will be Alex Davison’s third attempt at a full-time V8 career, having driven a Perkins Engineering-prepared Commodore for Rod Nash Racing in 2005. It wasn’t until 2009 before Davison got his second chance, securing a three-year deal with Stone Brothers Racing.

During that time, he picked up two podium results, one pole position and a best championship finish of 11th last year.

After finishing third in this year’s Carrera Cup, Davison says that his chance with Schwerkolt and FPR is his best opportunity to succeed in V8 Supercars.

“It is extremely exciting for me to be racing in V8 Supercars again so I thank Charlie for putting his faith in me and for giving me the opportunity to be part of FPR,” Davison said.

“I put all my efforts this year into getting into Charlie’s seat as it was my number one pick and was highly-sought by a number of drivers given the amount of success the team has had this year.

“The Car of the Future angle makes next year all the more exciting and the fact FPR are further ahead than just about anyone else with their preparations gives me a great deal of confidence.

“I am going into the test with a very open mind. I’ve heard what Will thinks of the new car but for me it is a chance to get some laps in before the break and also a chance to meet the team before we start working together properly in January.”

Team owner Schwerkolt says Davison can be a regular front-runner in his car.

“Alex is a great talent and one that deserves a drive at the highest level so I am very pleased he will be driving my car next year,” Schwerkolt said.

“His experience both in V8 Supercars and the Carrera Cup means we can immediately aim to be a contender at the front of the field.

“FPR’s Car of the Future program is very advanced and alongside the team’s three very talented drivers I think my car, with Alex in it, ensures all four factory Fords will be in the mix from the first race.”

Casey Stoner undertaking Dunlop Series test at QR

Casey Stoner is driving a Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden Commodore at Queensland Raceway today as he edges closer to a decision on his future in V8 Supercars.

The two-time MotoGP champion is being looked after at the test by Triple Eight’s Dunlop Series crew, under the guidance of the squad’s V8 Supercars Championship driver Craig Lowndes and team manager Adrian Burgess.

Stoner is driving Jamie Whincup’s two-time championship car, engineered by John Russell, and running on batches of old Dunlop tyres.

Before today, Stoner’s only V8 Supercars experience was at the Holden Driving Centre in Norwell, driving Triple Eight’s ride car.

After retiring from MotoGP at the end of this season, Stoner is yet to make a firm decision on his competition future.

While a Dunlop Series program with the champion team is becoming increasingly likely, team manager Burgess says that today’s test and evaluation is an opportunity to undertake a proper track test for the first time.

“He’s doing a great job at the moment and has acquit himself well,” Burgess told Speecafe.com from the circuit.

“He’s in the 1 minute 11s after three runs. We’re going through a range of spring changes, bar adjustments and letting him feel what a real V8 Supercar is like with a proper engine.

“We haven’t turned it into a big 25 people ‘super test’. It’s a DVS (Development Series) style test, keeping it realistic for him.”

While Burgess insists the test is a low-key affair, he admits that today’s laps will give Stoner the best indication of if he wants to turn his racing focus to four wheels next year.

“It’s still to be decided (if he will compete in the Dunlop Series),” Burgess said.

“Prior to today, he’s only driven our ride car. This is the opportunity to drive the race car.

“Once today is over, he can go home and make a balanced, educated assessment of where he’s at and if he wants to do a deal.

“He has been to enough V8 Supercars and Dunlop Series races now to know the commitment that will be required.

“He’s had an incredible career in MotoGP, so we’re not putting him under any pressure. The ball is in his court, and what ever he decides to do, we’ll back him 100 percent.”

Triple Eight has competed in the Dunlop Series over the past two years. Andrew Thompson won the title in 2011, before V8 rookie Scott Pye took the reins this year, finishing second overall.

Pye is expected to be confirmed as a driver for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport next year.

V8supercars have spoken to the owners of this circuit about a possible visit and a return to china.

Russell Ingall to make career announcement today

Russell Ingall will make an announcement regarding his V8 Supercars future at Queensland Raceway today.

The Supercheap Auto Racing driver, known as the ‘Enforcer,’ will hold a press conference at the Ipswich circuit at midday local time.

The Gold Coast resident has competed for Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Racing this year, finishing the V8 Supercars Championship in 13th place.

His position at the factory Holden-backed team has come into question over the past month, with the V8 Supercars driver market close to being finalised.

It has been expected that Ingall will remain in the driver’s seat for one more season, capping off a career that has seen him become one of the legends of the sport, having won two Bathurst 1000s (1995 and 1997) and the 2005 V8 Supercars Championship.

One more year!

sempeR wrote:One more year!

Let hope for 2!

I like drivers with character!