Parties divided on mooted Lites merger
7/8/2000 16:58 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - Debate over the future of the V8 Lites series has intensified today, with talk amongst the paddock at Lakeside over the weekend suggesting a merger with the “mother” category for the 2001 season.
It has been reported that AVESCO is considering adopting the US CART model for next year’s series – that is, running some Lites events at Shell Championship Series rounds, and others as stand-alone events.
It is believed a six-round Konica V8 Lites Series (one more than this year) would be divided evenly between Shell Series rounds and stand-alone meetings in 2001.
Lakeside, Phillip Island and Eastern Creek have been pencilled-in for next year’s calendar, while Winton and Symmons Plains have been discussed as possible inclusions. It is not known (other than Lakeside – which will remain as a stand-alone event) whether these will host the Lites as separate meetings, or to be included on their Shell Series programs.
Despite healthy grids and reasonable-sized crowds, many believe the lack of coverage sponsors have been receiving by running the series separate from the Supercar circus could hurt the Lites class in the long-term.
V8 Lites owner/driver, Craig Harris, disagrees, and says he would prefer the series remain separate – a view that, he says, is supported by the majority of the Lites paddock.
"I think all the competitors would welcome the opportunity to be invited as a showcase event to the Shell Championship Series, but the Konica V8 Lites must continue to run as a stand alone series, or the real reasons why the series was developed become extinct," Harris said at Lakeside over the weekend.
Harris has called on AVESCO to stop keeping competitors in the dark as to the future for the Lites series beyond 2000.
"There are a couple of imperative issues that have to be considered before the V8 Lites calendar is grown. We also have to be very sure we look after our sponsors if the Lites becomes a demonstration event for Shell Championship rounds," Harris said.
"While there have been no formal moves to implement the ideas that have been discussed, it's very important for all Lites competitors to make their feelings known to protect their interests in the series," he said.
More than 5500 were on-hand at Lakeside yesterday, to watch a healthy grid of 21 do battle for Lites honours. The series has averaged 3000-4000 spectators at each of this year’s three previous rounds.
Harris – whose garage debuted a second car this weekend – also spoke out against the inclusion of a Stone Brothers entrant (David Besnard) in the series, declaring Level 1 Supercar competitors weren’t welcome in the Lites class.
"Allowing Level 1 teams to enter vehicles in the V8 Lites is a real danger. The reason many Lites competitors have chosen the series is that the deficit of factory teams keeps the cost of competition down," Harris said.
"If Level 1 teams dominate the Lites series, it will make the job of being competitive, expensive for new teams. The way the series is structured now, those guys can attract sponsors and service them effectively,” he said.
A decision on the make-up of next year’s Lites series won’t be made until later in the year.
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