2017 VASC Silly Season

[anthony81901]

Originally Posted by chavez

A "hot seat" in that you might win a race or two every couple of years, but have little chance at Bathurst glory let alone championships.

This is BJR we're talking about....isn't it?

Same could be said of most teams. Teams like BJR, GRM, HRT, Nissan and Tekno grab the odd win, but most of of it is done by PRA and 888. As the biggest and best resourced teams, stands to reason. Should the drive in car #8 become available, then it would be highly sought after, and probably one of the hottest of those available.

[Umai Naa]

You're far more likely to see some success in the #8 than say the Nissans for example.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

You're far more likely to see some success in the #8 than say the Nissans for example.

Weird thing to suggest after Darwin

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by anthony81901

Same could be said of most teams. Teams like BJR, GRM, HRT, Nissan and Tekno grab the odd win, but most of of it is done by PRA and 888. As the biggest and best resourced teams, stands to reason. Should the drive in car #8 become available, then it would be highly sought after, and probably one of the hottest of those available.

Presuming BOC comes back for title sponsorship of course.

You might imagine the drivers' wages over at BJR are not on the same page as the likes of 888, WP etc..

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Presuming BOC comes back for title sponsorship of course.

You might imagine the drivers' wages over at BJR are not on the same page as the likes of 888, WP etc..

The commercial side of things over at BJR seems quite stable. Bringing in new brands, nurturing them over the long-term, even getting some of them onto their DVS and KV8 campaigns. BOC has been with the team for 20 years now. I'd imagine they'd still be there next season in some capacity.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

The commercial side of things over at BJR seems quite stable. Bringing in new brands, nurturing them over the long-term, even getting some of them onto their DVS and KV8 campaigns. BOC has been with the team for 20 years now. I'd imagine they'd still be there next season in some capacity.

Sure but the deal operates year to year... which is why this discussion comes up every year. Judging by the other branding on the car, the BOC deal is arguably not as lucrative as the Freightliner support..

[peckstar]

Courtney stars, but will he stay?

Will JC head OS next year, good luck to him if he does

[Langers]

Sounds like a solid plan for JC. Base oneself in the UK, but stay below the days in/out threshold so he's still a non-domiciled resident for tax purposes.

Take advantage of the weak AUD, send cash back and have a great retirement in ~5 years back in Aus when the kids need to settle into high school.

[Umai Naa]

Mr Noonan mentioned last night that the likelihood of a female being on the grid next year is strong.

Also mentioned that it may be enough to keep a manufacturer on the grid.

I think I speak for all when I say let's hope it's not Ms Gracie.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Mr Noonan mentioned last night that the likelihood of a female being on the grid next year is strong.

Also mentioned that it may be enough to keep a manufacturer on the grid.

I think I speak for all when I say let's hope it's not Ms Gracie.

Ms de Silvestro is about the only female around recently that has shown that she can hustle these cars competitively

Wonder if this is a Nissan thing...

[Umai Naa]

She'd be the most suitable candidate so far. Was allegedly not altogether content with chalking up last year's Bathurst attempt as just a 'learning year. Was the only one of the pair to properly wring the Pussy Wagon's neck, considering the car was a bit of a dog to start with. Hardly an ideal situation to be in, when Ms Gracie knew the track, and had experience in cars that are sort of the same.

Although Ms Angelo has been quicker than, and has seen better results than Ms Gracie this year, has not shown to be commercially viable for whatever reason. Some may draw very long bows, placing her at GRM in a Volvo next year, but the ships for manufacturer support, and the seat in question, have pretty much sailed on that one.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

She'd be the most suitable candidate so far. Was allegedly not altogether content with chalking up last year's Bathurst attempt as just a 'learning year. Was the only one of the pair to properly wring the Pussy Wagon's neck, considering the car was a bit of a dog to start with. Hardly an ideal situation to be in, when Ms Gracie knew the track, and had experience in cars that are sort of the same.

Although Ms Angelo has been quicker than, and has seen better results than Ms Gracie this year, has not shown to be commercially viable for whatever reason. Some may draw very long bows, placing her at GRM in a Volvo next year, but the ships for manufacturer support, and the seat in question, have pretty much sailed on that one.

The challenge is that both Ms Gracie & Ms Angelo are not within a bulls roar of the front of the Dunlop series field. Ms Duggan has driven one in the Kumho series with limited success.

Wonder if HRT might take on a female pilot... imagine if the Supercar sponsorship of a female (rumoured to be $1m a season) were to appear on their cars. Might be the largest commercial partner in their group

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Ms de Silvestro is about the only female around recently that has shown that she can hustle these cars competitively

I'd love to see Simona in the series. Certainly upper mid-pack from what we saw at Bathurst in an average car. Takes a really good driver to haul a bad car up by its bootstraps.

Certainly Mr Waters couldn't get his head around it, and he's without a doubt a strong talent.

[Langers]

We already know women can participate in motorsport - hundreds do so every week. What the sport needs is someone who is genuinely there based on talent not gender, and is consistently top-10 competitive. I hope whoever Aaron was referring to is chosen carefully and has the right technical package to support them, lest the cause of women in Australian motorsport be set back another 10 years.

[Umai Naa]

Without turning this into that Dasher thread, which female at this point in time, could potentially be competetive in the VASC based on their talent alone?

Besides Ms de Silvestro, perhaps Rahel Frey? Already fastest female around our Mount, in a factory Audi R8 GT3 car. Runs at the pointy end of the Asian R8 Cup, although it's hard to understand the deapth of talent in that series. Is it Pro, Pro-Am, or? But nonetheless, she's on the Audi payroll.

Would Ms Patrick take a significant paycut to play in our sandbox? Also stateside, is Ashley Freiberg. On the BMW Motorsport USA payroll, running in their GT3 machines this year.

Are there more out there? For now it seems, there isn't a whole lot to choose from, that could do the job and do it well.

[Accident]

Aside from Simona, Katherine Legge is the other female driver I think might be quite strong... It's a little hard to tell with her stuck in the DeltaWing though. I really don't know much about her tin-top experience, and she might be a little too kind to the cars to get on well in rough touring car racing.

Claudia Hurtgen has been solid for a while but admittedly not too spectacular. She was pretty strong in the Schubert Z4s around 2010 or so, but the last few seasons might have seen her past her prime... though maybe I shouldn't say that as I've not always been able to follow all the series she runs in.

Freiberg is a pretty good driver but I don't think she would be ready for something like V8SC yet. I see her as more of a growing silver ranked driver who has potential to grow further and faster.

With Danica's awareness I wouldn't want to see her in one of the cars, would just end up turning herself across the nose of others and then lots of team radio of her yelling "THAT GUY IS AN IDIOT." Not that she would ever bother with it anyway at the pay cut.

Jamie Chadwick and Sophia Floersch seem to have a lot of potential, but are years off from something like a V8SC drive.

[peckstar]

Kostecki to stick with Dunlop Series in 2017

A wise move i would imagine, however I have 2 REC's up for grabs at this stage

Interesting and probably valid sledge against the champion also

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Interesting and probably valid sledge against the champion also

Fair call, you'd think Frosty might have just walked down and had a word, but seems to be the PRA way to lose your **** and go straight to the journos.

Even some experienced guys have inadvertently baulked someone in quali, and he would have had a lot on his plate. I'd probably place some blame on the team as well, for not keeping him better informed.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Fair call, you'd think Frosty might have just walked down and had a word, but seems to be the PRA way to lose your **** and go straight to the journos.

Even some experienced guys have inadvertently baulked someone in quali, and he would have had a lot on his plate. I'd probably place some blame on the team as well, for not keeping him better informed.

I have a recollection of Frosty taking out Taz at Bathurst a few years back, not just a baulk

[leothedrummer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Interesting and probably valid sledge against the champion also

Impressively handled by Kostecki. That's a bit better attitude that I had expected from him, respect for that.

[Umai Naa]

Sadly, if Mr Winterbottom had wandered down to the #18 pits to have a chat and perhaps offer some guidance to the newcomer he wouldn't have looked like a complete flog.

Same thing could've been applied to the incident with Mr Russell, who was 2 seconds a lap quicker, and just wanted to press on with things.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Sadly, if Mr Winterbottom had wandered down to the #18 pits to have a chat and perhaps offer some guidance to the newcomer he wouldn't have looked like a complete flog.

Some would say you have to stick to what you're best at

[Umai Naa]

I'll pay that!

[GTRMagic]

So... the boys over at Foxtel's Inside Supercars seem to have a few things to say about 2017...

James Courtney to Nissan!
Todd Kelly to stay at Nissan
Nick Percat to BJR!
Jack LeBrocq to the 4th PRA car!
Scott Pye to nowhere..

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So... the boys over at Foxtel's Inside Supercars seem to have a few things to say about 2017...

James Courtney to Nissan!
Todd Kelly to stay at Nissan
Nick Percat to BJR!
Jack LeBrocq to the 4th PRA car!
Scott Pye to nowhere..

Pither? assume that means he has gone, even though he just scored a pole and Superblacks best ever weekend