2013 V8 Supercars Discussion

German racer Maro Engel will join the V8 Supercar field after being confirmed as the replacement for Shane van Gisbergen in the #9 SP Tools Racing entry of Erebus Motorsport V8.

Engel will be part of the team’s three-car Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8 Supercar entry alongside Lee Holdsworth (IRWIN Racing) and Tim Slade (HHA Racing).

It will not be the first time Engel has driven for the organisation having raced for the GT team at Phillip Island in the SLS AMG GT3 in September.

The deal is a multiyear arrangement with the former DTM and AMG sportscar racer. It comes off the back of a successful V8 Supercar test with the team in December.

“In December I tested the 2012 car and it was a great experience. The car was really fun to drive; I had great feedback out on track and heightened my desire to be part of this category,” said Engel.

“We had a really successful and positive test and it was great to work with the engineers. They are a really professional team and it gave me a really good insight into what the V8 Supercars have been like and I think with the changes for this year it’s going to make them even better.

“This year will be a steep learning curve for me, that’s for sure, but I’m really looking forward to learning from my team and team mates. I’m definitely coming over to be successful however I think we have to appreciate that this will take some time.

“This year is an unknown for everybody with new cars and new Car of the Future regulations, so I think we will have to wait and see how things go in the first race to see where we are all positioned.”

Erebus Motorsport V8 CEO Ryan Maddison said the process of filling the car #9 seat was one that was carefully considered.

“Erebus Motorsport V8 has a huge response with offers to drive both full time in car #9 and endurance events, and we are still fielding highly creditable applicants both domestically and internationally,” said Maddison.

“Maro has four years of experience as a Mercedes-Benz factory driver in the DTM series and has produced a number of standout performances including his win with Erebus Motorsport at Phillip Island last year.

“We undertook extensive due diligence on all levels and we believe that Maro’s desire to learn the V8 category, his professionalism and his motivation will strengthen our 2013 driver line-up which includes Lee Holdsworth and Tim Slade.

“The result is that we are entering this year’s V8 Supercars Championship with three drivers who we are not only very experienced, but that are excellent team ambassadors.”

Erebus Motorsport v8 General Manager Ross Stone said the December test went a long way to the team signing the German.

“Maro tested our 2012 spec V8 Supercar back in December and exceeded our expectations, given that a V8 Supercar is so unique to learn to drive in terms of the control tyre and brake package against engine power.

“He adapted to the car very quickly and showed that he had the determination and skill to race in the category. Of course he will have a lot to learn this year, as will every driver getting into a new car of the future,” said Stone.

Ford Performance Racing drivers Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison have taken the wraps off their factory Ford Falcons, complete with new sponsorship from Pepsi Max.

Unveiled in front of over 200 guests at a launch party in Melbourne this evening, the Pepsi Max Crew FPR team will feature split liveries, with the blue and yellow schemes reversed on the #5 and #6 factory Fords.

The colour choice of the cars are said to take after the drivers, with the blue ‘ice’ representing ‘Frosty’ Winterbottom and the yellow ‘fire’ for Davison.

The art creation was penned by ‘Hooks,’ a graffiti artist and member of the worldwide graffiti crew, in conjunction with FPR’s graphic designer Nick Moss. Winterbottom and Davison are said to have also had a hand in the creation of the design.

It is Pepsi’s third season in V8 Supercars having supported Kelly Racing’s single car entry for Greg Murphy in 2011 and 2012.

FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards welcomed the team’s new look and is keen to build on last season’s form while also showing off the team’s new image and approach off track.

“Our new deal with Pepsi Max comes at a great time for the team and the series,” Edwards said.

“An all-new look and one that is much younger, fresher and more fun reflects where the Ford brand has been heading for some time. It is also in-tune with our own feeling within the team where we have a huge amount of talented young people working together.

“No matter what we do we will always be faithful to the Ford brand and I encourage all our fans to embrace the new look and get right behind us as the sport enters a new era.”

The FPR team, now in its 10th year of competition, will feature the same driver line-up in its main cars, but expands from three cars to four. Having been a three-car squad (with Rod Nash Racing’s third car) for three years, Charlie Schwerkolt Racing and Alex Davison join the factory outfit in 2013.

FIRST PICS: Nissan Motorsport unveils Altimas

Nissan Motorsport has unveiled its four Nissan Altima V8 Supercars ahead of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship.

The newest factory team in the V8 field will be spearheaded by Todd and Rick Kelly in Jack Daniel’s Racing colours, while Michael Caruso and James Moffat have been confirmed as the drivers of the two Norton 360-backed Altima L33s.

Todd and Rick Kelly will remain in their traditional #7 and #15 entries, while Caruso will drive the #36 car and Moffat the #360 Altima.

The cars and drivers were revealed at Melbourne Showgrounds in Flemington, Victoria.

It is the first time in 20 years that Nissan has competed as a factory outfit in Australian motorsport, and leading driver Rick Kelly said he is looking forward to the new challenges his team will face in 2013.

“Today is an incredibly exciting day for our team and actually it comes almost 12 months to the day after we first announced our partnership with Nissan,” said Kelly.

“Not only do we officially welcome James, Michael and Norton to Nissan Motorsport, but we also unveil our Nissan Altima V8 Supercars in race trim, including the first black and white Nissan Altima of our long-time friends at Jack Daniel’s, as well as marking the next significant step in Nissan Motorsport’s journey to the grid.”