2008 Australian Sports & GT Championship

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I guess the issue behind the coverage is that its the competitors paying for it, and they all want their 5 seconds in the sun. To a certain extent to, each category is trying to develop the personalities between competitors and the viewer.

That said it would do the categories and the sponsors better to have more racing, which is what everyone is there for rather in a Q and A session.

That's the problem, everyone would like more racing but often the people who are paying for it just want to get their heads on.
When we were doing the Victoria State series we had the "advantage" that as we were doing it for way under cost we didn't have any cameras to spare. That didn't stop some though from demanding that we point cameras at them so they could get their plugs in, send their cheerios etc...
As for the live commentary it would add enormously to the costs, yes it's way, way better but you have to have the facilities and a live to tape mix.
Just hiring the equipment can cost an extra $10'000 plus per meeting. Although you do then save on post production which costs about $75 - 150 per hour. (roughly one hour per finished minute)
Ultimately though the drivers need to be careful that they don't bore their audience too much, perhaps that's why the ratings for Speedweek are so small.

[inpitlane]

Just to perhaps give you a better idea of just what's involved in a live to air/tape OB, check out the guidelines for motorsport coverage as specified by Free TV Australia the peak industry body for commercial television in Australia.
http://www.freetv.com.au/media/Engin...Motorsport.pdf

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by EfiOz

ASTUTI MOTORSPORT TO RUN KAIAS ASTON MARTIN IN 2008 AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP

John Kaias has joined Melbourne based Astuti Motorsport in his ‘all out’ bid for success in the 2008 Australian GT Championship.



Kaias will be campaigning what is arguably the ‘glamour’ car of the field, the FIA GT3 specification Aston Martin DBRS9 Aston Martin that he brought into the country from theUK in April of last year.



Commenting on the move to the Astuti outfit Kaias said: ‘After some lengthy thought on the best approach for my 2008 season, I have decided to join Astuti Motorsport.



I wish to take my motor sport to a higher level with a more professional approach and believe Astuti Motorsport are the team to help take me there



I know my DBRS9 is good enough to win the championship so now I must place a bigger focus on my own development with a team that can give me the best support along with my full commitment.



I thoroughly enjoy driving the DBRS9 which is why I have decided to take the next step’.

Astuti Motorsport was formed by Sam Astuti to tackle the competitive world of Australian Formula 3 competition and is thrilled to be extending their skill, professionalism and expertise into the Australian GT Championship.

Astuti has been aspiring to run a team in GT for some time and couldn’t be happier to have John and the amazing Aston on board for the 08 season where they are set to become a formidable combination poised for success

That the car is well and truly capable of running at the front of the field against the Ferrari 430’s, Lamborghini Gallardo’s and Porsche models is beyond dispute with Kaias scoring two 4th positions and a 3rd at Round 4 of last year’s Championship at Queensland Raceway, while Will Davison scored two 2nd places in the “James Bond” machine at Round 5 at Phillip Island.



Disappointment was the name of the game for the big Aston at the Sandown Classic last year when the 360 kilowatt V-12 engine was plagued by a mysterious fault that even a new ECU flown over from the UK failed to remedy.



The car, in the hands of Kaias and Davison eventually finished in 7th place despite running with several cylinders down.



Astuti Motorsport debuts the Aston Martin at round one of the 2008 Australian GT Championship at the A1GP at Eastern Creek (February 1-3) followed by the Clipsal 500 Adelaide and the Australian Grand Prix rounds.

For more GT information visit the Championship web site at www.gtchampionship.com.au

I cant imagine Mr Fitzgerald is pleased to hear this! Although his new 2008 Porsche signing allegedly brings some strong backing from Opes Prime..

If Mr Astuti is running this car, does that mean no more F3, and perhaps no more development series... for Mr Samadi?

[racer69]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

As for the live commentary it would add enormously to the costs, yes it's way, way better but you have to have the facilities and a live to tape mix.
Just hiring the equipment can cost an extra $10'000 plus per meeting. Although you do then save on post production which costs about $75 - 150 per hour. (roughly one hour per finished minute)

That may be the case for AVE, but the excuse doesn't wash when it comes to V8TV. They've got the budget, the gear already in place (for the main series, and the selected support races they show same-day), but when it comes to the standalone support series TV programs they continue to post-produce them

[stmookeyj033]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

If Mr Astuti is running this car, does that mean no more F3, and perhaps no more development series... for Mr Samadi?

Tend to think it will be no development series.

[cptkablamo]

Good move for Simonsen, he is off to the FIA GT - but guessing he won't be back for the full Oz Gt series this year - http://feedmesportscars.com/node/3568

Interesting that Kaias is changing preparers...hope it works out for him...

[Oldtony]

With the VIP porsche winning the Dubai 24hr the Question is will that Porsche be left in Europe for the rest of the 24hr series.
Tony Quinn said "We would like to do the series but we would have to sell a lot more pet food".
The rest of the rounds are:
19/20 April Eurospeedway, Lausitz, Germany
23/24 Aug Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
4/5 October Valencia Spain
The driving team was Craig Baird, Tony & Klark Quinn and Jon Webb. If they do continue with that series it may affect driver availability for some local GT and Carrera Cup rounds.

[EfiOz]

None of those dates even come close to a clash.

[Falcadore]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

With the VIP porsche winning the Dubai 24hr the Question is will that Porsche be left in Europe for the rest of the 24hr series.
Tony Quinn said "We would like to do the series but we would have to sell a lot more pet food".
The rest of the rounds are:
19/20 April Eurospeedway, Lausitz, Germany
23/24 Aug Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
4/5 October Valencia Spain
The driving team was Craig Baird, Tony & Klark Quinn and Jon Webb. If they do continue with that series it may affect driver availability for some local GT and Carrera Cup rounds.

That Porsche already lived in Europe, having done last years Nurburgring 24 Hour, and both Tony and Klark Quinn have retired from Carrera Cup.

[TCR]

Has a 2008 calendar been released for this series yet?

I've only ever been to the local round at QR but am trying to schedule in a "boys weekend away" sometime this year if possible at either another round of the Australian GT or another overseas GT endurance race.

I dearly miss the Bathurst 24 hour which starting off being our weekend away and would love to go to another similar event. For those of you that attended the Sandown Classic how was it? It sounds like the field was a bit dissapointing and it's not exactly an "endurance event" like a 12/24 hour but it's the closest we have in Australia at this stage.

Paul.

[Sheep Stations]

Originally Posted by Falcadore

That Porsche already lived in Europe, having done last years Nurburgring 24 Hour, and both Tony and Klark Quinn have retired from Carrera Cup.

The 997RSR was kept on the Gold Coast after last years 24 Nurburgring. It will now need some serious 'maintenance' having done two 24 hour races plus numerous tests, practice, qualifying etc. on original engine.

Engine life is approx. 30 hours racing then its rebuild time. I guess economics will decide whether that job is done back in Aust. or by one of the specialist shops in Germany.

[cptkablamo]

Originally Posted by TCR

Has a 2008 calendar been released for this series yet?

I haven't seen a final calendar yet...Not too sure what the holdup is though.

For those of you that attended the Sandown Classic how was it?

I found it to be a great event. It does need to make some improvements and I don't think anyone will dispute that fact - but if you like endurance racing like I do, you will enjoy it...I think the biggest problem was the lack of open spectator areas...

With the VIP porsche winning the Dubai 24hr

That was a great result for them...I hope they can come up with the money for the rest of the 24h series...although that car would be looking a bit tired at the moment I would reckon

[RS500]

Originally Posted by cptkablamo

I found it to be a great event. It does need to make some improvements and I don't think anyone will dispute that fact - but if you like endurance racing like I do, you will enjoy it...I think the biggest problem was the lack of open spectator areas...

Not to mention the lack of entires, Yes it was unfortunate that 2 of the cars in with a chance of keeping up with Alan were out by lap 7, but the rest of the field was lacking and thinly spread around the track made a pretty quiet race.

[EfiOz]

Looks like a big grid for the A1GP season opener. Although it might look a little different to last years grid.

[Falcadore]

Is a 997 RSR eligible for Oz GT? Not that I'm suggesting the Quinns would run, but I was curious whether the 'ban' extended across all 997 models or just the Carrera Cup.

[RS500]

if it did ever run in the Oz GT category it would have quite a few restrictions on it to slow it down to the GT3 cars the field is based around ( but then again knowing how they tend to have different rules for different people they may not have any restrictions)

The car is however eligible to run in the state and marque sports series

as far as i can understand the "ban" is just in the cup models. nothing stopping someone building a 977 street car up to cup specs though - if they were willing to waste the time and money

Still no official press release regarding the "Pirelli Grand Turismo Championship" its starting to sound like the series will be based around Mr Wilsons team.. Don't know if anyone else on here may have heard something about the regulation and the sort of vehicles that are eligable??

[cptkablamo]

I haven't heard anything about the Pirelli GT thingo other than the initial press release...what about Intermarque, I've not seen anything about that either - interested in knowing about both though...

[Matthew Ronke]

I beleive the Pirelli GT will have its official launch at the end of the month. But don't hold me too that.

[cavvy]

Rodney Forbes is racing this weekend in the NZ Carrera Cup in an 08 model - what are his plans?

[RS500]

Intermarque is still going and running on its own calender, after its split from the AMRS / AMRC.

[noaxetogrind]

Originally Posted by EfiOz

Looks like a big grid for the A1GP season opener. Although it might look a little different to last years grid.

Has a grid been published yet? Can you post a link or fill us in?

[RS500]

http://www.trofeomotorsport.com/Info...k%202008-2.pdf

Pirelli Grand Turismo Championship Info

looks like it is basically the same as the IM and GT (until the end of 2008), just what this category needed....

will be interesting to see the grid sizes of all 3 categories this year

[Simon S]

seems a shame that all the formats here seem to be geared towards single driver entries.... IMHO that's a mistake for a GT type format.

[cptkablamo]

I am kinda fearing the landscape of GT racing here by years end. They haven't done anything innovative with this championship and wonder why they did it at all...

IM, GT and CC should be enough - is there enough support to cover this one as well for a national GT series???

[Senna05]

Probably not, but what I see is one guy trying to set up a championship to international regs, one organisation setting up a slush fund with lots of monies from Porsche, and another guy who honestly thinks he is helping out the scene but probably is hurting it....