So Will Sau Folk Still Refuse To Watch V8 Supercars

[Roy]

What is wrong with being Falcodores? GT1 cars are just spaceframes with panels. To a lesser extent the same with GT2 and even GT3. Get to GT4 and they are semi production cars. Nobody rights off GT500 cars as being sports sedans.

I dont get why people right off them as being Falcodores...as though any race car has to be 100% based on a production chassis car. I agree that the people running around thinking their SS is a V8 Supercar is a worry, but at the end of the day that association is what is most appealing to many of the manufacturers.

I havent read the COTF regs since early last year. The talk of Mercedes being interested seemed to be torpedoed by their desire to use a production engine rather then an badged control engine. That and they didnt want to have develop to much aero (spend $$$$)

I hope they allow some freedom with engines. At the end of the day they engines that Ford run with are not that relevant to Ford these days, nor is the Chev so will have to move on sooner or later

[blackrex]

There are supposed to be parity rules regarding new entrants being able to run a more up to date engine design if they do not have an equivalent engine in their range (or they can run an "off the shelf" V8 Supercars spec engine using aftermarket parts that have been specified by the organisers), however, as no one has yet presented that type of engine, it is not agreed upon as the to requirements for parity.

[FineLine]

Super taxi's are super shit. Put whatever badge you like on it underneath its still the same damn car.

Close racing my arse, close procession of ugly looking 4 door hacks is more like it. I've seen more overtaking in wheelchairs down the hall at donerootin nursing home.

Whoever decided that an uglyarse 4 door family stomper would make a good looking race car should put the crack pipe down. In comparison GT1 cars look freakin porn.

Cochrane and his puppet show can suck my large male chicken.

[wolverine]

the cars has to be based off a production car, does it not? so what are nissan entering?

Stretched 120Y is my mail.

[iamhe77]

Spec engine with spec chassis.

They really will be falcodores from next year.

Stick them on an oval!

I'd be interested to see engine regs. Could nissan (or ford for that matter) run an OHC V8 and gain an advantage or are they going to be penalised for moving away from the push rod donks?

So if Nissan enter the Altima (which ain't a great looking car either) will you refer to the vehicles as Alcodores?

Having a Nissan (or any other manufacturer) run around with the same mechanicals as every one else will not make me watch.

Manufacturer engines and transmissions on the other hand...

[iseekool]

I'm gonna take a pure "educated" guess and think Nissan will probably run the sedan versions of Skyline V36 or Infiniti G37 platform...

Reasons being:

- Infiniti will be releasing cars in Australia soon, possibly a good marketing opportunity...

- The V series Skyline is already in production and has RWD, so less mods or no mods required for the floorpan. (I don't know about the rules. ie. if you are allowed to change floorpans etc... so a FWD based car would be useless)

- It's a 4 door

- Size is already similar to a falcodore

[No Crust Racing]

I was more so thinking it would simply be one chassis and cage setup with a shell on top loosely resembling something in the each marques lineup?

[MBS206]

I was more so thinking it would simply be one chassis and cage setup with a shell on top loosely resembling something in the each marques lineup?

That's pretty much what I thought it was, and what it sounded like...

IE, the only thing really linking them, is the badge, and that the car extremely loosely looks like the road going version... And considering most cars these days look alike (Falcons, commos, magnas etc) that's not a hard rule to comply with...

[Marlin]

A lot of you blokes need to go and read about the V8 Supercar 'Car of the Future" before dribbling on here..

EDIT: and no not you MBS206, you just have peculiar timing lol

Edited February 9, 2012 by Marlin

[No Crust Racing]

OK seeing as Uncle Benny is getting cranky, but not at you MB, just anyone above that so that includes me

From the V8 Website

"The cars will still feature V8 engines, rear-wheel drive and four doors. They'll also continue to make the same roar and be just as fast, if not actually faster. Currently, the chassis beneath the skin of the Falcon and Commodore are all extremely similar, with the next step being a control chassis — it's cheaper and is also aimed at making it easier for other potential manufacturers to build a V8 Supercar.

A Commodore will still have the DNA of a Commodore, ditto for a Falcon or any other type of car that joins in. The doors will still open and close, the panels are the same shape and style of the road car, and the badges are real, too!

A manufacturer wanting to join the V8 Supercars Championship could even come along with their own V8 engine, used under a parity system to ensure it's on par with the current units in the class, or use a 'category' engine if they wish to go with already-established technology."

So control chassis, own panels "massaged" to fit chassis where needed, and can BYO engine assuming certain power/torque limits etc or use a crate/control option.

Edited February 9, 2012 by ActionDan

[Marlin]

Thanks, you're a good nephew

And there you have it. ^^^

I think it's basically the same formula that Mark Oastler suggested would be a good idea going forward to keep it intersting. When did he suggest this? Oh, circa 1996! If only they'd listened then......

And, for what it's worth, having Nissan join with their own Nasc... sorry, Supercar, won't help grass roots Aussie motorsport. The "show" still sucks up all the money, and fields half it's races on non-permanent tracks. Tracks that YOU and I, cannot ever drive on.

[Roy]

Wish my predictions were always that good. I guessed it would be either Kelly Racing or Rogers Motorsport to go the Nissan route. So Kelly is the first on board. I still think Rogers could jump ship too giving Nissan the two teams they will most likely be looking to support

[tweety bird]

NISSAN will join the V8 Supercars Championship in 2013 and become the first new manufacturer to enter the sport under its new ‘Car of the Future’ rulebook.

The news was announced today at a press conference in the River Room at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

The Japanese car giant will take on Holden and Ford in next year’s championship – the first run under new ‘Car of the Future’ rules.

Kelly Racing has signed with Nissan to become the company’s factory team and will run four cars next year from their Melbourne workshop.

The team will have the full support of the giant NISMO Nissan Motorsport organisation.

Announcing the news today was Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO Dan Thompson, Ian Moreillon (Executive General Manager, Sales and Fleet, Nissan Australia),

V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane and V8 Supercars CEO David Malone.

“We plan to use our presence in the series to strengthen our passenger car credentials in Australia,” said CEO and Managing Director of Nissan Australia Dan Thompson.

“Nissan believes that, alongside Ford and Holden, we possess the most convincing motorsport DNA and track history in Australia, making a V8SC debut in 2013 an obvious initiative.

“We are targeting No.1 importer status in Australia and already making progress towards that as one of the country’s fastest growing brands. V8 Supercars will boost that momentum.”

The announcement signals the return of Nissan to the top form of touring car racing in Australia after an absence of two decades.

It last ran a factory team with Gibson Motorsport and four-wheel drive Nissan GT-Rs in 1992, claiming the Australian Touring Car Championship with Mark Skaife and the Bathurst 1000 with Skaife and Jim Richards.

V8 Supercars Commission Chairman Mark Skaife, Kelly Racing Chairman John Crennan and Kelly Racing co-owner/drivers Rick and Todd Kelly were also at today’s announcement.

“I couldn't be more excited with the opportunity Nissan has offered Todd, myself and the entire team at Kelly Racing to become their official factory team,” said two-time Bathurst winner Rick Kelly.

“Nissan's genuine enthusiasm, unwavering support and absolute professionalism through this evaluation has been tremendous and underpins their absolute intentions of Championship success in the category -

a dream we share and hope to deliver on.”The model of Nissan that the team will use – and the engine package the car will utilise – will be announced at a later date.

Nissan’s worldwide motorsport activites of late have proven to be strong and successful.

They won last year’s FIA GT1 World Championship with a Nissan GT-R driven by Germans Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm as well as the Japanese SuperGT Championship and took a 1-2 finish in the

LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour.

QUOTEBOOK

Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Co-Owner/Driver

“This new partnership has only been made possible by the endless amount of hard work that John Crennan has done for Kelly Racing on this project, and that of Ian Moreillon, Jeff Fisher and the team at

Nissan of which Todd and I are very grateful.

“The Nissan COTF project is a huge undertaking however Todd and I are firmly focused on the job at hand this season ensuring that Kelly Racing takes those important steps forward on and off the race track.

“Development of our cars and recruitment of key personnel in the off-season should assist us to realise these immediate goals.

“This new partnership brings with it a host of opportunities for the team, our business partners and of course fans and delivers the vision that we have shared since our inception in the category in 2009.”

Todd Kelly, Kelly Racing Co-Owner/Driver

“Rick and I have had one clear goal that we have been striving for since we started Kelly Racing, that was to become a benchmark race-winning team with factory support.

“The timing with Car of the Future has enabled us to engage a manufacturer and achieve that.

“We couldn't be happier to be a factory Nissan team and factory Nissan drivers.”

Tony Cochrane, V8 Supercars Chairman

“We welcome Nissan with more than open arms.

“This announcement ratifies all we have known about V8 Supercars for a long time – that we are an international player, a growing following globally and in great demand by big business and corporate players.

“I also applaud Kelly Racing for this pioneering move to embrace Nissan and take one of the world’s biggest brands on their journey within the V8 Supercar Championship. Todd and Rick are truly remarkable businessmen,

visionaries and drivers.”

Mark Skaife, V8 Supercars Commission Chairman

“This opens up a whole new chapter for V8 Supercars.

“The sport and the brand have been so successful over such a long period of time with today’s news reinforcing the direction of the business, coupled with imminent international expansion to multiple destinations globally.

“Nissan has clearly acknowledged V8 Supercars as a major component of their future plans within the Australian car market and motorsport internationally. V8 Supercars will deliver on their expectations.

“There is no doubting the entry of more manufacturers now that Nissan has taken the first step to recognize what the relationship will do for their brand.”

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/championship/newsarticle/official-nissan-to-join-v8-supercars-championship/tabid/70/newsid/12124/default.aspx

[Union76]

Sorry, V8Supercars how dull.

Bring back the Bluebird 1.8 Turbo - SOMETHING DIFFERENT (looks different, sounds different, goes different) to the boring old Norm.

Rednecks Rejoice - there little ailing series has just been thrown a lifeline.

Yeah, great one Nissan, sell more Family Sedans - fantastic.

[No Crust Racing]

Given the relevance of the Bluebird to the Aus market what would the point of that be? If you want to see turbo bluebirds beltin out laps why not get down to your local club event and enjoy the variety? Done of us appreciate Motorsport in all forms. I couldn't care less what it is when I see massive brakes an carbon bits here there and everywhere.

Hell watch Aus GT or follow IPRA or any other number of categories that include far more variety but attract far less media and sponsorship dollars.

I think far too many import fans are rediculously one eyed about this sort of thing. Almost as if it actually matters to them if old mate next door genuinely thinks his new SS is just like the ones on TV. And heaven forbid people LIKE the local product, which is actually pretty decent for the dollars, according to a fair few international auto journos.

Unsurprisingly the biggest racing series in Aus is based around two of the markets oldest manufacturers and very popular models with the general, spectator fee paying, audience. Pretty much as it is in most countries.

I think sometimes the biggest reasons people have an issue with V8SC is because it gives V8 fans some genuine ammo in the mine is better than yours argument which is especially hard for Skyline owners when mildly tuned new V8 offerings will keep up with and in many cases beat most similary modded imports.

Flame suit on

[Marlin]

^^^ One of your best posts yet Dan. Uncle Benny approves this post.

[No Crust Racing]

lol cheers

I'll take some bonus points for doing that on the iPhone too

Edited February 9, 2012 by ActionDan

[Roy]

I saw the other night that only just over 1million cars were sold in Aus last year. Holden sold 40,000 Commodores last year. In Japan the last few years have been lean for them due to a number of reasons yet have still domestically sold 4.5million cars. Thats not including cars they export.

So looking purely at domestic markets, the Japanese market is 4.5 times bigger then Australia. Then you have export markets. So they can design cars with far bigger budgets vs local companies. So all things considered I think Holden and Ford do a great job. Hell GM now use the Holden designed chassis as a global platform for the rwd cars

Also, when you see the likes of Clarkson and Hammond driving the HSVs and raving about how fun they are, it amuses me when import owners still look at the local product as pieces of rubbish. They have a place. I know if I had kids and needed a 4dr I would be punting around in an Gen Commodore with some pipes on it

The fact that we even have a domestic race series is a good thing. Looking OS plenty of countries have hopeless series. The series generally appeals to people who want to see the country's best race teams and drivers race. The series appeals to the average punter as its what their company car is....and its giggles to see what hot rodding mass produce shopping trollies can produce

Even if the management of our series leaves the sport generally poorer

[Risking]

^^^^^^ you got my vote Dan......

[Marlin]

Yes but what I enjoy Roy is development, and this formula doesn't really have any given the fixed spec. All the cars are designed and limited to allow identical performance. It DOES make for good racing, but the tech side doesn't excite me.

Freddy Gibson nailed it in 1993 when he replied to a question asking what he thought of the new V8 formula, he was running Winfield Commodores you'll remember... He replied, " the boys don't like working on these shitter cars.... the technical challenge just isn't there. We could have chosen a Falcon or Commodore, it doesn't matter, it's all about who brings us the most money."

I'd LOVE to see the Aussie cars going up against Eachother in a more reality based car, they're both excellent platforms. Hell, the new supercharged engine has made the Falcon an animal. Several mates own them and I'm a huge fan! 500hp plus at the treads with pipes and simple tune. Outstanding!

Dan, from my iPhone