'02 Astc??

[racer69]

Michael H is right, the STCC organiser's aren't allowing ST cars in the 2003 championship, indicating they do believe the 1999 spec cars too old.

[DAVID PATERSON]

I struggle to see how any touring car can cost that much for a rebuild, i'd really like to see some detailed costings, surely if it costs that much to buy the parts, you'd develop the capacity to make them inhouse.

[kmchow]

I once recall the topic of the cost of maintaining a ST car being discussed on the BTCC board. $25K was the cost for a major teardown/TLC for a BTCC (Works?) level team. Minor TLC/maintenance costs about $10K. I forget exactly what was the mileage schedule. But it was somewhere between 1500-2500km that a major rebuild would be needed. This was the cost quoted by a supposed anonymous BTCC team mechanic.

But considering the fact that ST is basically finished, perhaps the cost/parts have fallen?

But even at a humble $10K for a major rebuild, that is expensive when a used ST Audi A4 only costs $55K?

I recall a BMW Motorsport ST engine costs around $80K-120K back in '99?

Of coure, all prices are quoted in US dollars.

[Michael H]

Indeed, the STCC organisers believe, sadly, that 99 cars are too old.

However, the STCC should have an exciting future, with STCC organisers allowing non-FIA sanctioned Super 2000 cars to race. i.e. new Audi A4 , Saab 9-3, Vectra, Merc, Renault, Citroen, Mondeo, Skoda, VW Bora/Passat, Peugeot 406, Honda Accord, ....the list is endless, and very exciting.

Any other models that you think could be raced?



My overall point is, where is Australian multi-make touring car racing heading?

[Jake]

Michael, all these cars may be available, but who is going to race them when they can't field more than 10 cars now??????

[StuiE]

the may be allowed in the STCC but who is willing to race them? i doubt there will be more than 5 manufacturers racing, and not many of them factory supported...

"My overall point is, where is Australian multi-make touring car racing heading?" - Michael H

Nowhere in Super Touring, perhaps GT Performance is your answer?

[M Power]

How this for an Idea The ST bite the bullet while V8taxi support is at it lowest dump the ST's comeout next season with a full feild of superproduction cars (there cheaperto build and maintain) get a couple of koncia big names and Taxi names and give the Australian public what it wants
have all types of motors and rwd/fwd a weight system NO wings just on the floor with 19inch wheels .

If you build it they will come!

[mtpanorama]

They already have, it is called PROCAR

[Michael H]

gtr69 - I think the STCC will see factory teams in '03 from Volvo, BMW, Alfa, Audi. Pus Saab and Opel, even though GM owns both. Some Swedish Saab fanatic will build a car.

Be in no doubt that the STCC teams are very very professional, in terms of engineering and racing.

M Power - I like the Super Production idea.

[Crash Test]

agree with MtP- do the Australian public want it? If so, what went so terribly wrong with Super Touring, and how will this 'new' series be any more popular than say Procar, which really hasn't captured the public's attention, despite some sensational spin doctoring....

[ASTEM]

At ASTEM our very first efforts have been directed at getting these cars back racing and positioning them so they can continue to regain their position on the Australian Motor Racing Calendar.

Super touring in this Country has gone through difficult times with promoters and Category Managers loosing their direction and focus and together with the loss of Manufacture support and corporate sponsorship has creates a very dusty environment for our teams to operate in. The dust is slowly clearing.

We have achieved our first objective in getting the cars back racing and with the support of our Web Site http://www.ozspeed.net has proved to us that there is very strong and maintained interest in the future of 2 Litre Super Touring, whatever the final specifications might be.

ASTEM believes that our current cars are a necessary platform from which the category can move on. The options are very clear and we are well advanced in our planning.

An Asian/Pacific Touring Car Championship has been a regular discussion point between teams, Promotors and Motor Sports Authorities and with each having a separate agenda it seems that no common ground has ever been reached regrettably.

ASTEM is trying to change that position. Stay tuned.

[racer69]

The more i think about it the more i unfortunatly don't think Super production will work, the only reason i can think of though is that it is a more traditional style Touring Car version of GT Performance, actually, thinking about it now, with the GT Performance fields barely making 20, why couldn't SP get it's start in Oz as a class B in the series, i also think that SP is meant to replace ST on the PowerTour next year? or 2004.

I'm a huge fan of multi-manufacturer racing, more so Group A style than ST style, but nevertheless want a series in Australia, but at the moment i unfortunatly don't see an alternative to keeping the ageing Super Tourers for now. BTC Touring is out of the question, unless we just want hand me downs, and even that would be problematic, as all the control parts are manufactured in Britain. Super 2000 could work, but expense is a bit of an issue plus the fact it is only used in the ETCC at the moment. Apart from that, the likes of V8STAR and DTM will just end up the same way as the TOCA/Future/Bathurst/New Millenium AUSCAR/Junior Tourers did.

The other problem is that the manufacturers don't feel welcome in Australia. The way Nissan were treated in 1992, the way BMW were shafted for absolutly no reason in 1993, the way CAMS failed to promote the Under 2L category in the ATCC in the late 80s got rid of Toyota, plus scared off how many other manufacturers......

Any new news on the entry to QLD raceway, any additions to the entry?

[ASTEM]

Yesterday Mumbo Racing took delivery of a Nissan Primera and the car in heading back to the Port Macquarie Work Shop for final preparation for its return to the track at Queensland Raceway.

Mumbo Racing Manager Rod Dale said that he was well advanced in discussions with several drivers and sponsors.

[kmchow]

Anyone know where that Primera came from? Is it the Richards/Zonnevald Primera that has been racing in the past?

[ASTEM]

The Primera has a limited history in australia, it was raced by Keil Johnson, _____ Fox and Alan Gurr, as far as we are aware the car only made 3 race apperances, 2 at oran park and once at wakefield park. the car was brought into the country by Hi-Tech Motorsport (they ran the vectra) form asia.

We are trying to obtain a more detailed history.

[racer69]

I believe John Pachos bought it from Macau in late 2000, then was raced by Mathew Fox at Mallala and Wakefield Park, from there Kiel Johnston raced it at the next Wakefield round and Gurr raced it at the Oran Park finale.

Not sure if blue was it's original colour or not, but blue Primera's of the same shape raced in the 1995 Italian Touring Car Championship, with Ivan Capelli as one of the drivers, this could be one of the cars?

I had a feeling or Barrel may have said that the Nissan had spent time in South Africa.

[racer69]

Could possibly be the sister car too the ex-Steven Richards Primera, which came from the South African series.

[D.R.T.]

Great news to see another car on the grid. This car has some great potential. 3rd at Oran Park final in 2001 had Barrel in tears.

[Jake]

How many cars does that put on the grid for Queensland 15+?

[D.R.T.]

Very likely. With all these new competitors streaming in.

[kmchow]

Really? How are all these cars showing up? Is the organizers waiving the entry fees? OTOH, this is still just an entry list. We shouldn't get overexcited until we actually see the starting grid.

[cmotorsport]

Can any1 know the grid size for nextweeks race at QLD raceway, for the Super Tourers??? cheers

[ASTEM]

At his Stage we have 12 Confirmed Starters for Qld with 2 still To be confirmed.

All competiters are being charged entry fees and television fees.