Zee Germans could join zee auzzies??

[wedge]

I agree with you about the independents but

More manufactures = higher costs = less cars = less racing = less interest = less money = even less cars = even less racing = even less interest = bye-bye V8 Supercars.

That's how they killed CanAm, Group C, the old DTM and lots of other series.

Someone remind me how CanAm died.

Group C died because of the silly homologation 3.5l engine rule which meant Bernie could twist engine manufacturers into F1

DTM/ITC died because their was no checks on cost and was allowed to die.

NASCAR has been recently been keeping cost in check and have used prehistoric pushrod V8s.

AVESCO have standardised car components to keep costs down.

I don't mind cutting costs on principle but at what cost? homogenised spec-racing

[Rollo]

Manufactures can (and will) pull out any time and sponsor golf or tennis. Teams can't just pull out, racing is their income.

You may find this instructive:

With the global financial crisis taking hold and GM and Ford being total basket cases, it has been announced by both of them that RWD platforms have both been cancelled:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleId=60193
http://www.caradvice.com.au/20794/gm...-rwd-platform/

It follows that without either the Commodore or the Falcon in existance, then there won't be Commodores or Falcons to build V8 Supercars from.

Pray tell, how do you run a series with no car at all?

[Rollo]

More manufactures = higher costs = less cars = less racing = less interest = less money = even less cars = even less racing = even less interest = bye-bye V8 Supercars.

The V8SA board meets on Monday 15th of March to discuss the so called "Car of the Future" for the 2012 regulations. It is expected that the 2012 cars will be built on a common purpose-built platform, and that new "manufacturers" would be allowed to submit entries without the need to produce a V8 engine of their own (because neither Ford or Holden currently do).

The new Car of the Future is expected to have even more common componentry than the current regulations prescribe, be anywhere from 50kg to 150kg (dropping the weight of the cars from 1350kg to either 1300kg or 1200kg), and is expected to cost $150,000 for a rolling chassis which is about $70,000 cheaper than the current cars.

At this stage, it is rumoured that there are three complete CoFs (though I've only seen a single unfinished chassis), and that Mark Skaife who led the technical team has already tested it. I'd expect either a prototype to be shown at Bathurst either this year or in 2011.

I can't show links at yet, but I expect that I'll be able to after the V8SA board has met and we have something more concrete after about Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

[Daniel]

It won't happen.

[Daniel]

More manufactures = higher costs = less cars = less racing = less interest = less money = even less cars = even less racing = even less interest = bye-bye V8 Supercars.

That's how they killed CanAm, Group C, the old DTM and lots of other series.

Good racing series rely on the teams, not the manufactures, F 1 and NASCAR are just finding out.

Manufactures can (and will) pull out any time and sponsor golf or tennis. Teams can't just pull out, racing is their income.

It's people like Ross Brawn, Peter Sauber, Joe (I mean Andrea) Nemechek or Tommy Baldwin that keep the series running when the manufactures pull out.

To say something positive: If more manufactures step into V8 Supercars rules, than at least use them for DTM too and get rid of the wimpy DTM cars.

Wimpy DTM cars? Are you serious?

[Rollo]

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/amg-+-...7/default.aspx
Triple Eight Racing Engineering’s Roland Dane has described reports that he has had talks with Mercedes-Benz or AMG as a “crock”.
“Not one single person has asked me if we have ever spoken with Mercedes-Benz about coming into V8 Supercars or going racing full stop.
“I’ve never, ever spoken to them (Mercedes-Benz) about it.”
- Roland Dane, 888 Motorsport

So now what?

[Azumanga Davo]

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/amg-+-...7/default.aspx
Triple Eight Racing Engineering’s Roland Dane has described reports that he has had talks with Mercedes-Benz or AMG as a “crock”.
“Not one single person has asked me if we have ever spoken with Mercedes-Benz about coming into V8 Supercars or going racing full stop.
“I’ve never, ever spoken to them (Mercedes-Benz) about it.”
- Roland Dane, 888 Motorsport

So now what?

Well, they just changed their allegiance to Holden. Probably not wise even contemplating a consultation with them concerning a new manufacturer link up.

One team does not a series make though. There will be someone interested in trying something new.

[BDunnell]

More manufactures = higher costs = less cars = less racing = less interest = less money = even less cars = even less racing = even less interest = bye-bye V8 Supercars.

That's how they killed CanAm, Group C, the old DTM and lots of other series.

Bit simplistic, in my opinion. Yes, costs in the old DTM had soared. But turning it into an international FIA series, the ITC, was a huge mistake. The global interest in that form of racing just wasn't there. It was a very popular domestic series, but there its appeal all but ended.

To say something positive: If more manufactures step into V8 Supercars rules, than at least use them for DTM too and get rid of the wimpy DTM cars.

From that remark I can only assume you've never seen a DTM car.

[Rollo]

So much for anything being published in a hurry:

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/welcom...8/default.aspx
Cochrane revealed that the Car of the Future regulations will be announced at a special press conference to be held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on the Monday after the Australian Grand Prix.

The Car of the Future (CoF) regulations have been designed to make it easier for manufacturers other than the traditional Ford and Holden to take part in the Championship.

Great, so now we have to wait even looooonger, for V8SA to tell us what's going on. What's a few more weeks after first telling us that it was going to be announced last October? It's like waiting for the NSW State Government to make an announcement.

[kmchow]

I thought there was also talk about the DTM merging their rules with Japan's Super GT? Or is MB trying to merge DTM/Super GT/V8 Supercar??