Lites dumped, but Konica Series bigger and better
7/10/2000 17:02 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - AVESCO insist there is nothing light-weight about their 2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series, formally launched at Sandown Park Raceway this morning.
The “Lites” tag that was applied to the V8 Supercars’ feeder category last year is gone, and a new-look, six-round V8 Supercar look-alike Series takes its place.
"Along with a name change, which better reflects the standard of racing provided by the Series, we have increased the number of rounds to six in an effort to meet the growing demand for V8 Supercar racing from fans," AVESCO Chairman, Tony Cochrane, said.
While the name may have changed, Cochrane says the philosophy behind the Series hasn’t.
"The Series has been designed to foster the talent of young drivers and help prepare them and their teams to make a transition to the next level of competition," he said.
Along with Oran Park Raceway, Phillip Island, Lakeside, Mallala and Winton, the revamped Wakefield Park Raceway in Northern New South Wales will host a V8 Supercar event for the first time in the formula’s history.
Each round will feature the 20-minute triple-sprint format, and will see the top-ten finishes in the first race start in reverse order for the second.
Konica entrants will also run at a special support event, over 30 laps, at the FAI 1000 in November.
All of the Championship-deciding rounds will be held as stand-alone meetings, not as part of the Shell Series program as some suggested.
The incentive for the Konica runners to compete against their Level 1 Shell-backed colleagues is one drivers will continue to savour, Cochrane explains.
"The top four drivers will be given an opportunity to compete in the Shell Championship Series at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and the Queensland 500 at Queensland Raceway and the top eight at the FAI 1000 Bathurst,” Cochrane said.
Also, in a major boost to the Championship, Konica have extended their support for the Series to next season and beyond.
"Konica Australia is proud to play a part in discovering new young Motor Racing champions. Through our sponsorship of the V8 Supercar series, we can continue assisting drivers like Dean (Canto) to realise their goals on the Motor Racing circuit," Konica’s National Marketing and Sales Manager, Geoff Davey, said.
Tony Cochrane says, "Konica have made a commitment to V8 Supercars and will work with us as we build the Series in its own right."
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