2018 VASC Silly Season (with POLL)

[JAFA851]

Before this year, DJRTP struggled to set the car up consistently too. Only since the arrival of Ludo have they been on the pace every single weekend. So as you say it's down to the capabilities of the team, and often 1 person can make or break a team.

[mceci1]

Originally Posted by JAFA851

Before this year, DJRTP struggled to set the car up consistently too. Only since the arrival of Ludo have they been on the pace every single weekend. So as you say it's down to the capabilities of the team, and often 1 person can make or break a team.

DJR didn't just have engineering issues, it was a number of car development problems, coming from a backmarker probably just ahead of Erebus and then LDM in 2014 to title leaders this year is impressive, FPR has been going as FPR/PRA since 2003 and are getting beaten by a team below them within 3 years, but you are right, Ludo and Roger Penske have saved DJR

[WatchingOn]

Originally Posted by mceci1

DJR didn't just have engineering issues, it was a number of car development problems, coming from a backmarker probably just ahead of Erebus and then LDM in 2014 to title leaders this year is impressive, FPR has been going as FPR/PRA since 2003 and are getting beaten by a team below them within 3 years, but you are right, Ludo and Roger Penske have saved DJR

Is it a case of too many cars, more cars = more staff to supervise, less cars = more time spent on those cars

[mceci1]

Originally Posted by WatchingOn

Is it a case of too many cars, more cars = more staff to supervise, less cars = more time spent on those cars

Even with two cars though, evidently more then two is an issue as we are seeing with a couple of teams. But even in the days of Richards Winterbottom it was a struggle still.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Anybody bemoaning the balance of Ford vs Holden teams in Supercars only needs to think back to Ford's decision to cut support.

True. But now Holden have cut support back to essentially just two teams as well (888 and BJR).

The rest will go with which ever manufacturer is most expedient.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by WatchingOn

Interesting how everyone thinks that Stanaway is a shoe in for each and every one of the available seats for 2018, and that he automatically jumps all those drivers that have done the hard yards in the other series.

He is a good driver but so are the top half in the Dunlop field.

I'm sorry but Stanaway is way ahead of most of the Super2 drivers, who are essentially "unproven nobodies" with no track record in top levels of motorsport. [Don't forget drivers such as Dale Wood, Steve Owen, James Moffat, Owen Kelly, Dean Canto have dominated Super2 yet been merely average drivers in the Supercars championship. Topping Super2 doesn't mean that much.]

A seasoned veteran of Le Mans, GP2... some of the highest levels of motorsport and (unlike Ms. de Silvestro and other internationals) Stanaway has already shown immediately that he is comfortable with and has the correct technique to drive fast with Supercars' unusual spool differential.

IIRC the last internationals to be so impressive were versatile drivers like Mattius Ekstrom and Patrick Long... also very impressive with being up to speed ASAP with Supercar's unusual required driving technique.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by mceci1

For Ford to expect a Mustang they also need to back DJR and PRA, it will be a major new task compared to if they were to ask to introduce the fusion, which is very similar to the FGX and is a logical choice due to the fact they have some idea with aero

I doubt Ford Australia are expecting that, they are not interested in the Supercars series, compete begrudgingly, an would probably prefer they were not represented in Supercars at all!

If anything all Ford Australia want to do is distance themselves from the Supercars series. [Why? Because it's a "bogan" series and gives the wrong image, obviously. Nevermind the sophisticated technical aspects of motorsports.]

[V8 Fireworks]

Could James Davison be considered for a Supercars drive? His excellent form in the NASCAR Xfinity series seems to suggest he is comfortable with a spool differential too.

[Umai Naa]

He wouldn't have been that competitive in the maingame.

There's still a large-ish gap between the road course specialists and the rest, in the Xfinity championshp.

[WatchingOn]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

I'm sorry but Stanaway is way ahead of most of the Super2 drivers, who are essentially "unproven nobodies" with no track record in top levels of motorsport. [Don't forget drivers such as Dale Wood, Steve Owen, James Moffat, Owen Kelly, Dean Canto have dominated Super2 yet been merely average drivers in the Supercars championship. Topping Super2 doesn't mean that much.]

"unproven nobodies" that's a big statement

So you are saying every other driver in the field has no track record in top levels of motorsport - what do you class as top level of motorsport?

[GTRMagic]

Meantime, AA suggests Mr W. Davison is headed back to prodrive...

[simonracer]

So how will that work? Will he take Bright's seat? Or is he being swapped with someone?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Meantime, AA suggests Mr W. Davison is headed back to prodrive...

Not sure i am a fan of the idea

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Meantime, AA suggests Mr W. Davison is headed back to prodrive...

How peculiar.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by simonracer

So how will that work? Will he take Bright's seat? Or is he being swapped with someone?

Is Chaz actually signed for next season? AA seems to think there is an extension option there.

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Is Chaz actually signed for next season? AA seems to think there is an extension option there.

His last renewal was a 2 + 2 option.

[mceci1]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Is Chaz actually signed for next season? AA seems to think there is an extension option there.

It seems like he and Frosty are locked in for at least 2018, yet media speculation are pointing at changes next year. At this stage the only one to sign a contract is Bright for 2018

[Go Harder.]

Originally Posted by mceci1

It seems like he and Frosty are locked in for at least 2018, yet media speculation are pointing at changes next year. At this stage the only one to sign a contract is Bright for 2018

Waters has signed a new contract, but being an insider, you already knew that

[mceci1]

Originally Posted by Go Harder.

Waters has signed a new contract, but being an insider, you already knew that

I did, hence why I said the only one yet to sign a contract is Bright. His REC is with PRA, its just a matter of working out who to put in the car, Bright, Jacobson or Stanaway. Cam's contract renewal was imminent anyway, anyone who can see his talent saw it coming

[one five five]

Originally Posted by mceci1

I did, hence why I said the only one yet to sign a contract is Bright. His REC is with PRA, its just a matter of working out who to put in the car, Bright, Jacobson or Stanaway. Cam's contract renewal was imminent anyway, anyone who can see his talent saw it coming

Didn't Bright confirm the other week that he is driving his REC again next year?

Isn't the Moster deal only an option for the next two years at the moment?

Has Winterbottom been officially confirmed?

And how many of the PRA cars have naming rights sponsors locked in for next year yet?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by one five five

Didn't Bright confirm the other week that he is driving his REC again next year?

Isn't the Moster deal only an option for the next two years at the moment?

Has Winterbottom been officially confirmed?

And how many of the PRA cars have naming rights sponsors locked in for next year yet?

Bright didnt confirm it, he said he expected to continue full time

Bright expects to stay full-time at Prodrive in 2018

[mceci1]

Originally Posted by one five five

Didn't Bright confirm the other week that he is driving his REC again next year?

Isn't the Moster deal only an option for the next two years at the moment?

Has Winterbottom been officially confirmed?

And how many of the PRA cars have naming rights sponsors locked in for next year yet?

Chaz is locked in as far as I am aware, I did think at one stage he was up but got clarification and I was told as far as some in PRA know he is there until 2019, so unless something has changed that no one knows about. As for Frosty Tim said something about wanting to retain him for next year, but again, Frosty's contract was up a year before Chaz, so therefore it should be up next year or should have been up last year, and given they both resigned in 2015 it doesn't make sense to sign him for just 2016 given Bottle O was on the car for 16 and 17. For Cam, it was a logical decision to resign him, why would you let him go when he has shown a huge improvement from last year, not winning races yet, but he is only in his second season, glad they didn't do a Dave to him (which would have resulted in more bad blood between lower and higher employees). As for Bright, I said he isn't locked in, he wants to drive and is expecting to, after all he owns the REC, so unless the top wants to lose money and a REC they cant stop him, plus he is bringing experience in alongside Frosty, a vital (underrated) asset for a team.

As for sponsors, as far as I'd heard all were up for renewal, Monster, Supercheap, Bottle O. Not sure how that's going as the things I mainly talk with the person I know is drivers and where the team are at and expect to be at in the future. On a positive note for PRA though, a new engine expert has been signed so hopefully Triple 8 and DJR will have some issues to deal with in another 3 hopefully 4 falcons. Now the team management just needs to focus on keeping an engineer for more then two years, something that Frosty has said before is really letting the team down, look at Triple 8 and their continuation with two of their drivers

[anthony81901]

Originally Posted by one five five

Has Winterbottom been officially confirmed?

Contracted until end of 2018. Sydney Morning Herald 6 October 2016

[GTRMagic]

The Bottle O's future will be interesting. Having pourage rights and signage at multiple rounds is a logical extension of their involvement. That said, a year to year deal with prodrive has to always be a risk.

Market conditions change at year's end, with their 2nd largest market impacted by the recycling tax on containers on 1 December, which will add to their cost base, and knock around retail selling prices.

It will be interesting....

[peckstar]

Erebus commits to new Commodore