V8ST - 2014

[KRDG]

Originally Posted by socram

Thank goodness we have the Hampton Downs Festival meetings for those who appreciate variety. With a load of older well known race saloons now coming out to play, this is shaping up to be the best Festival since the opening 2010 McLaren event and ticket sales are well up on previous years too.

The festival is still the only event to see sub 60sec lap times around the circuit (HD) anyway ie F5000.

Good numbers of quality F5000's with plenty of overseas cars again I believe.

[Dav1s]

Originally Posted by socram

Thank goodness we have the Hampton Downs Festival meetings for those who appreciate variety. With a load of older well known race saloons now coming out to play, this is shaping up to be the best Festival since the opening 2010 McLaren event and ticket sales are well up on previous years too.

Totally agree. In years gone by although there was a lot of "single make" supports at the V8 event, I quite enjoyed seeing the main game cars out on circuit, then the Porsche GT3s and some TRS action too. Hell even the Suzuki Swifts put on a good show in Hamilton a few years ago.

But as for next year, V8 Supercars, V8 SuperTourers, NZ V8 Touring Cars, V8 Utes.............

You will find me at the NZ Festival of Motor Racing, listening to real V8s (F5000s etc), some V12 Ferrari bliss, not to mention a bit of flame spitting turbo F1 in the mix too. Going to be a fantastic event!

[Goat Boy]

Originally Posted by Dav1s

Totally agree. In years gone by although there was a lot of "single make" supports at the V8 event, I quite enjoyed seeing the main game cars out on circuit, then the Porsche GT3s and some TRS action too. Hell even the Suzuki Swifts put on a good show in Hamilton a few years ago.

But as for next year, V8 Supercars, V8 SuperTourers, NZ V8 Touring Cars, V8 Utes.............

You will find me at the NZ Festival of Motor Racing, listening to real V8s (F5000s etc), some V12 Ferrari bliss, not to mention a bit of flame spitting turbo F1 in the mix too. Going to be a fantastic event!

I am cutting short my annual camping holiday just so that I can see/hear those F1 cars scream - we will need earplugs though, they can crank out 140dB!

[JamesK]

NZ Herald
"A one-make race series featuring SsangYong Actyon sports utes will run as a major support class for the V8 SuperTourers series next year."
"Called SsangYong Actyon Racing (SAR), the series allows individuals or companies to buy a ready-to-race ute for $30,000."

Just what Motorsport needs, another class.
The sponsor pool is getting smaller, with every new class.
Why would V8ST promote this while their own teams appear to struggle for sponsorship.

[Goat Boy]

A long read, but this is from the V8 Utes - they will certainly still be running with ST's next year so I guess the Ssangyongs will be just another class.

Supercars and Highlands headline 2014 UDC V8 Ute Series

A fifth year on the bill for the V8 Supercars and an opening round at the fabulous new Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell are the highlights of the six round 2014 UDC New Zealand V8 Utes championship calendar announced today.

In 2014 the V8 Supercar round at Pukekohe will be a championship round for the UDC V8 Utes, and it will visit the historic circuit three times during the season, with the series finale being he...ld at the track as the main support class for the SuperTourer season closer. The series will also visit Taupo for the Fathers’ Day 400 meeting and will head to the South Island again in November. Series Managing Director Paul Isaac is excited to have both Highlands and Supercars on the calendar, commenting;

"This year the Supercar round was a non-championship event but in 2014 it will form a points scoring round of the UDC V8 Utes championship and this is great news for our corporate partners, our drivers and their own corporate partners. It's the biggest motorsport event in New Zealand by far during the motorsport year and a real spectacle. We are delighted to be back once again. Highlands in January is equally as mouth-watering - it's a world class facility and our drivers have been keen to go racing on it since it opened for business. They don't have much longer to wait fortunately!"

Australian drivers have been much in evidence in the UDC V8 Utes this past season with Kris Walton, Rod Dawson, David Ling and Chris Berry all competing at some stage. More Australian racers are expected to compete regularly in 2014 and this will push up V8 Ute numbers in the domestic New Zealand series. Fifteen or more V8 Ford and Holden utes will line up for the first round at Highlands as the series continues to grow in its role as the main support category for the BNT V8 SuperTourers, and as a main feeder category for all senior V8 racing series in New Zealand and Australia.

2014 CALENDAR

Round 1 – January 25/26 – Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell, South Island
Round 2 – March 22/23 – Pukekohe, Auckland
Round 3 – April 24/27 – V8 Supercars, Pukekohe, Auckland
Round 4 – September 6/7 - Father’s Day 400 Taupo
Round 5 – November 1/2 – South Island (track venue TBA)
Round 6 – November 28/29/30 - Pukekohe 500, Auckland

[tacmacnzl]

Originally Posted by Goat Boy

as the series continues to grow in its role as the main support category for the BNT V8 SuperTourers, and as a main feeder category for all senior V8 racing series in New Zealand and Australia.

Really?

Does the Utes Pr person believe what he writes???

[Goat Boy]

Originally Posted by tacmacnzl

Really?

Does the Utes Pr person believe what he writes???

I think that was written by Toni Street or Nadine Chalmers-Ross. Or Petra Bagust...

[tacmacnzl]

Originally Posted by Goat Boy

I think that was written by Toni Street or Nadine Chalmers-Ross. Or Petra Bagust...

A bright future on 7 Sharp perhaps?

[pukekoheracer]

Great to see Scott M in ST again next year

http://www.speedcafe.co.nz/2013/12/1...ertourer-deal/

[adbutler]

Originally Posted by pukekoheracer

Great to see Scott M in ST again next year

http://www.speedcafe.co.nz/2013/12/1...ertourer-deal/

Good to see after the talk by some that the McLaughlin's wanted to pull out after their bad run of accidents last year.

[socram]

I think there were 12 V8 Utes at the last round I saw televised. Wow 12... Sure is a major support class on tracks that cope with 40+ cars.

[onza]

Surely someones got some info seeing how the seasonstarts in 3 weeks!

[pukekoheracer]

Originally Posted by onza

Surely someones got some info seeing how the seasonstarts in 3 weeks!

Pretty Quiet by the looks

[20b]

It appears the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup will not be returning this year. Already one has been seen racing in the ss2000 series with a few modifications. ss2000 are actually considering inviting the series to run with them.

Shane Van Gisbergen will not be returning this year. The Colin Corkery car, as far as I know, will most likely be parked up unless a driver can be found.

There are various other rumors floating around at the moment. More should become clearer within the next few days.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by 20b

It appears the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup will not be returning this year. Already one has been seen racing in the ss2000 series with a few modifications. ss2000 are actually considering inviting the series to run with them.

Shane Van Gisbergen will not be returning this year. The Colin Corkery car, as far as I know, will most likely be parked up unless a driver can be found.

There are various other rumors floating around at the moment. More should become clearer within the next few days.

They are all true, not going to cromwell....Jacko, Horne, Ceperenich, PSR,SVG car,SM.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by 20b

It appears the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup will not be returning this year. Already one has been seen racing in the ss2000 series with a few modifications. ss2000 are actually considering inviting the series to run with them.

Shane Van Gisbergen will not be returning this year. The Colin Corkery car, as far as I know, will most likely be parked up unless a driver can be found.

There are various other rumors floating around at the moment. More should become clearer within the next few days.

With regards to SVG, whilst it is true that he will miss the the first two rounds, and possibly the SuperCar round, and that Eugene Corkery's car [which is in my workshop] wont run with another driver, however, its not true that he wont be back this year. Even if Shane only ran the Enduro's he will be back in V8ST and any body that actually knows SVG, will tell you that he is looking forward to it.

Its also true that there will be a reduced V8ST field at Highlands, due mainly to the significant cost's to the teams to go Cromwell, plus the timing of the event itself itself. My information is that there will be 14 V8ST + or - 1 car on the grid at Highland's

Many of the teams are struggling with budget because they have not been able to talk to potential sponsors over the annual NZ holiday "shut Down" period. However, I firmly believe that that there will be 20 V8ST at the Supercar round, and a similar number at the two North Island Enduro's.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by onza

Surely someones got some info seeing how the seasonstarts in 3 weeks!

Sure, expect a small entry.

10 cars +/- 2

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by Blackpearl

Sure, expect a small entry.

10 cars +/- 2

I got that right.

[Dav1s]

Interesting some of the word about teams not having sufficent budget etc.

When did the last V8ST round finish, seemed not that long ago. There doesnt appear to be much time for everyone to sit down, regroup and raise more money etc. Just constant racing spread out all year to minimal crowds at Hampton Downs.

As a casual viewer, and ex sponsor of various car within Tier 1 NZ motorsport and V8ST i do feel saturated by the amount of V8ST happenings that I dont feel that excitement about the start of the season and such like I used too.

TRS sponsorship a few years back was excellent. Season got built up and hyped up, attended a pre season test. Had great hospitality and really felt part of a popular show!

V8ST we got treated to week in week out reports about Hampton Downs this, Hampton Downs that, and so called "Endurance" races that were over in the time it took you to finish your hotchips and over priced coffee.

I understand the series is still young, but i feel a little bit numb to it all now, and have heard so much talk, so little action in terms of whats happening to the show. Its certainly a case of over promise, under deliver.

Great concept, just needs a bit of fine tuning to turn it into a great class. Plus a little less bull$%^& and talk. (Wishful thinking)

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Dav1s

Interesting some of the word about teams not having sufficent budget etc.

When did the last V8ST round finish, seemed not that long ago. There doesnt appear to be much time for everyone to sit down, regroup and raise more money etc. Just constant racing spread out all year to minimal crowds at Hampton Downs.

As a casual viewer, and ex sponsor of various car within Tier 1 NZ motorsport and V8ST i do feel saturated by the amount of V8ST happenings that I dont feel that excitement about the start of the season and such like I used too.

TRS sponsorship a few years back was excellent. Season got built up and hyped up, attended a pre season test. Had great hospitality and really felt part of a popular show!

V8ST we got treated to week in week out reports about Hampton Downs this, Hampton Downs that, and so called "Endurance" races that were over in the time it took you to finish your hotchips and over priced coffee.

I understand the series is still young, but i feel a little bit numb to it all now, and have heard so much talk, so little action in terms of whats happening to the show. Its certainly a case of over promise, under deliver.

Great concept, just needs a bit of fine tuning to turn it into a great class. Plus a little less bull$%^& and talk. (Wishful thinking)

There is a lot of debate around the world in the motorsport industry whether you spread out your season and try to keep it in the forefront of everyone's mind year round or have an actual season that is compressed into a specific time period.

There are merits to both approaches but I tend to think you need to have a "season" that runs within an actual climatic season or seasons, such as spring/summer, summer/autumn, whatever it might be and it needs to be connected in one stream with maybe a break of two/three weeks at most between races. That way people have something to look forward to, build up to, have some anticipation for. Imagine if rugby or cricket just ran at random times around the year, it just would not be the same. The way the schedule is set up right now, I'm not too sure about it.

The series seems to have lost it's way a bit. Not uncommon for any new business after the initial buzz. NZV8's refuses to die which I am sure dilutes things some.

[Blackpearl]

http://www.jmr.co.nz/news/1-latest-n...rk-gibson.html

[promax]

maybe ST needs to stop trying to compete with V8SC and go back to the original concept.. of an affordable class.

living beyond their means... ain't going to work

[Biggy G]

Gibson replacing J Mac is a big story, wonder what the main driving force is behind that, to me the "nourishing young talent" might be a small factor, but by no means the main one, J Mac is far from a spent force, and always really popular with the fans. Look forward to seeing how the team progress

[on_to_it]

Originally Posted by Biggy G

Gibson replacing J Mac is a big story, wonder what the main driving force is behind that, to me the "nourishing young talent" might be a small factor...

Hey BG, money changed hands, end of story regardless of the spin. Yawn!

Good luck to them anyway.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by on_to_it

Hey BG, money changed hands, end of story regardless of the spin. Yawn!

Good luck to them anyway.

OTI, as you well know motor racing consumes a lot of money, I think both John and Paul Manuell have done a really smart thing in bringing in younger drivers with budget's to help supplement the team costs. In both instances they also get to drive with their young charges in the Enduro's, so its a win/win allround the way I see it.