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BraCCA complete article: Auto Racing in Australia
A shorter version of this article is featured at the BraCCA February newsletter. More information on the BraCCA website.
Australia Local Racing Environment
Australia has only produced a handful of race car drivers that have made it well into the motorsport scene internationally, such as Jack Brabham and Mark Webber. However, the local championships are highly praised, attracting crowds, uncovering heroes and firing passionate emotions towards brands and drivers. This series of articles brings an overview of the Australian motorsport, starting with the biggest National event, the V8 Supercars.
V8 Supercars
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| Craig Lowndes warming up his Ford Falcon at Queensland Raceway |
| 23-Aug-2009 15:02 |
At a Glance
V8 Supercars is a touring car category, aired nationally by the Seven Network. In over 13 years of development, it has achieved fast and well balanced cars. It uses the two traditional Australian manufacturers to add to the show: “Are you a Ford or a Holden fan?”, also referred to as “blue” versus “red”. The public knows the drivers well and speak of champions Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander as old friends. A marketing success, 68% of fans are loyal to the brands carried by their favourite drivers.
History
Back in 1993 CAMS divided the existing Group 3A Touring Car category into 3 classes: Class A for V8 Fords and Holdens, Class B for 2.0 litre FIA Class II Touring Cars, and Class C for two-wheel drive cars that complied to the 1992 CAMS Group 3A category. The Class C existed for 1993 only. In 1995 the 2.0 litre cars started contesting their own series, the Super Touring Cars, so V8 Fords and Holdens were left alone in the field. In 1997 the series gained its name V8 Supercars. Management company AVESCO (now called V8 Supercars Australia) soon turned V8 Supercars into a world-class product.
Technical
The cars are based on production road cars. There are very strict regulations that ensure parity between Ford and Holden. Introduced in 2003, the Project Blueprint examines both makes carefully. The cars are based on current Commodore or Falcon bodyshells with a roll cage for added structural stiffness. In the past the VE Commodore was granted custom bodyshells given its factory wheelbase being longer. Now, it is the FG Falcon that uses custom bodyshells.
With a minimum weight of 1355kg without the driver, the cars must be designed with a front engine and rear wheel drive. Ford uses the 5.0 litre Windsor SVO while Holden uses the 5.0 litre Small Block Chevrolet, both with pushrod actuated valves, 2 valves per cylinder, and electronic fuel injection. Both engines run at a regulated compression ratio of 10.5:1 on E85 fuel and produce 650 bhp. The E85 is an 85% ethanol fuel, and the low compression ratio with an electronic restriction of 7500rpm make these engines last for a long time.
The aerodynamic package is standard to each make and no changes are allowed except for downforce settings. Both makes supposedly have the same characteristics. The differentials, sequential gearboxes, suspension, fuel tank and brakes are the same between the two makes. Front suspension is a double wishbone while the rear suspension is a 4 links live axle with a Watt's linkage.
Dunlop supplies the same tyres to all teams on a limited supply. To add to the show, a softer high performance sprint tyre was introduced in 2009 and each car gets one set per weekend. The sprint tyre can be used anytime the team choses to, and has allowed midfield drivers to win races.
Race Format
,-Whincup-(1st)-and-McConville-(3rd)-180x180xMaxSize.jpg?m=1265971196 "Clipsal 500 2008 podium: Holdsworth (2nd), Whincup (1st) and McConville (3rd)") |
| Clipsal 500 2008 podium: Holdsworth (2nd), Whincup (1st) and McConville (3rd) |
| 24-Feb-2008 15:00 |
The series comprises sprint races and endurance races. Qualifying is made in two legs of 20 and 15 minutes each, followed by the best 10 drivers competing in the Top Ten Shootout for the pole. The endurance races can be either one single run of 500km on Sunday (the Phillip Island 500), 1000km on Sunday (Bathurst 1000) or a 250km run on Saturday and a run 250km on Sunday (Clipsal 500). The sprint races are made of two races of 200km each, one on Saturday and another on Sunday.
There are three separate V8 Supercar series. The main event is the V8 Supercar Championship Series. The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is an access category for newer drivers. The V8 Ute Racing Series is a pick up racing series that caters for both new aspiring drivers and less experienced drivers.
Television Coverage
The series is broadcast in Australia by Channel Seven (free to air) and Telstra Bigpond Broadband (live on the internet). Internationally, the V8 Supercars is available on TV3, C4, Eurosport, Channel Five UK, Motors TV, Neo Sports and Speed Channel. Several cars have onboard cameras.
Close racing and excellent TV coverage makes the V8 Supercars a must watch for motorsport fans. The 2010 calendar is set for 16 rounds with sprint and endurance events in the Middle East, New Zealand and Australia. Check out the official V8 Supercars website for the complete calendar.
