Post by TC Ink on Feb 9, 2009 17:02:13 GMT 10
The rules for the V8 Supercar Championship have finally been put to bed amid a host of changes designed to spark new life into the series.
Following a meeting of the V8 Supercar board at the new three-level business offices of the series managers at Nerang in the Gold Coast's western fringe, the most hotly debated topic will see continuation of a single qualifying session to determine the grid for dual-race weekends.
Race distances have also been set with a mix of 100km, 200km formats spread across the sprint weekends.
It had been argued long and hard whether to implement separate qualifying sessions for the Saturday and Sunday races but that was vetoed.
The rule now places even more on Saturday because where a car qualifies on the grid will determine its starting position for the Sunday race regardless of the finishing position in the opening race on Saturday.
The qualifying formula staged in three parts will return with the exception that the final part will see a return of the top 10 shootout, driven by television executives who argue that it presents a much better spectacle for viewers.
Race distances have been given an overhaul with most sprint rounds running a 100km Saturday race with a 200km race on Sunday.
However at signature meetings at Hamilton, New Zealand, Townsville and Sydney the dual races will be set at 200km each.
Many of the wholesale changes disclosed during the L&H 500 at Phillip Island last September have been approved including the abolition of pit stop windows.
The new super soft compound tyre will also make its debut exclusively at Winton, Symmons Plains, Hidden Valley, Sandown, Queensland Raceway and Barbagallo.
What is considered a bigger x-factor is the fact that teams will be permitted to use whatever tyre they see fit across the course of the weekend placing more emphasis on strategies.
There will no longer be official recognition of a round winner with a podium to be staged for each of the 26 races across the 14-round season.
The V8 series will feature a grid of 30 cars and the board is still considering accepting wildcard entries for the endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
It is believed that applications from teams to enter a wildcard entry must meet a June deadline.
Author:Gordon Lomas
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright
Following a meeting of the V8 Supercar board at the new three-level business offices of the series managers at Nerang in the Gold Coast's western fringe, the most hotly debated topic will see continuation of a single qualifying session to determine the grid for dual-race weekends.
Race distances have also been set with a mix of 100km, 200km formats spread across the sprint weekends.
It had been argued long and hard whether to implement separate qualifying sessions for the Saturday and Sunday races but that was vetoed.
The rule now places even more on Saturday because where a car qualifies on the grid will determine its starting position for the Sunday race regardless of the finishing position in the opening race on Saturday.
The qualifying formula staged in three parts will return with the exception that the final part will see a return of the top 10 shootout, driven by television executives who argue that it presents a much better spectacle for viewers.
Race distances have been given an overhaul with most sprint rounds running a 100km Saturday race with a 200km race on Sunday.
However at signature meetings at Hamilton, New Zealand, Townsville and Sydney the dual races will be set at 200km each.
Many of the wholesale changes disclosed during the L&H 500 at Phillip Island last September have been approved including the abolition of pit stop windows.
The new super soft compound tyre will also make its debut exclusively at Winton, Symmons Plains, Hidden Valley, Sandown, Queensland Raceway and Barbagallo.
What is considered a bigger x-factor is the fact that teams will be permitted to use whatever tyre they see fit across the course of the weekend placing more emphasis on strategies.
There will no longer be official recognition of a round winner with a podium to be staged for each of the 26 races across the 14-round season.
The V8 series will feature a grid of 30 cars and the board is still considering accepting wildcard entries for the endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
It is believed that applications from teams to enter a wildcard entry must meet a June deadline.
Author:Gordon Lomas
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright
I think changing the determining of the Sunday starting grid isn't a very smart idea at all. Say a top driver makes an error in the first stage of qualifying and is stuck at the bottom of the field for race 1 and then turns in a great performance in race one ending up around the top 10, how is it fair that he then again has to come from the back in race 2... Seems like a very unnecessary change.
Anywho, the top 10 shootout is back!!! ;D ;D Now that is a change I'm very excited about, always loved the shootout and now its back for every round ;D
It looks like they have completely got rid of 3 race weekends. I was hoping for a mix of rounds with 3 shorter races or 2 longer ones....
Abolition of pitstop windows is good, I suppose the races will be long enough to enforce pitstops which is good.
Why not recognise the round winner? Hmmm
And hopefully those wildcard entries to the enduros will make it. It was always good having bigger fields with different entrants for Bathurst.
