Bigger, better, longer, tougher... More bang in '02
2/12/2001 0:14 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Next year’s V8 Supercar championship will be a test of strategy and stamina for drivers and teams alike, as AVESCO deliver on their promise to provide fans with more bang for their buck.
Longer races, and more of them, are the feature of next year’s calendar, the composition of which was announced at Sandown Raceway today.
The traditional 20-minute ‘triple sprint’ format has disappeared, replaced with the popular ‘mini-enduro’ races that were introduced at most rounds this season.
"Recent research conducted amongst our fans has shown their desire to see longer races featuring compulsory pit stops,” AVESCO CEO, Wayne Cattach, said at today’s launch.
"The new formats focus on teamwork as much as driver ability, providing greater entertainment and much closer racing.”
100km or 150km races will be the order of the day at most rounds, excluding showcase events like the Bathurst 1000, Queensland 500, Canberra 400 and Adelaide’s Clipsal 500.
Perth fans will see pit stop action for the first time next year, with Carlton United Breweries (CUB) to underwrite the cost of upgrading the pit facilities at Barbagallo Raceway.
"Thanks to the fantastic support from CUB and the WA Sporting Car Club the pit lane at Barbagallo Raceway will be lengthened and widened enabling us to conduct races with pit stops,” Cattach said.
The trip West will also see a sprint race held on Saturday, as will the Hidden Valley leg in Darwin.
Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway will also host a 20-minute Saturday sprint, to be held under lights on Saturday evening. The V8 Supercars last raced at night at Calder Park Raceway in 1997.
AVESCO are hoping to develop the Eastern Creek round into another showcase event on the calendar, with its own naming-rights sponsor.
The championship Grand Final at Sandown Raceway will undergo changes, including combining Sunday’s two races into a 300km ‘last blast’ endurance test – the longest solo race in the history of the sport. Drivers will stop for both fuel and tyres during the mini-marathon.
The 2002 series is without a name after Shell withdrew their naming-rights support of the category earlier this week.
AVESCO say they are close to securing a new sponsor, with published reports suggesting a three-year, $9 million deal with a mystery company is close to being finalised.
Meanwhile, the road to the Konica V8 Supercar Series trophy will also be longer, with the final race of the day to be extended by 15 minutes.
The five-round Konica Series will continue to be run over three Sunday sprints: two 20-minute races and a final 35-minute showdown.
The controversial top ten reverse grid in the second race has been retained for 2002, though grid positions for the final race will be determined by the combined results of races one and two.
Wayne Cattach said reducing the series by one round will prove more attractive to competitors, as will the richer prize purse.
"In reducing the series to five rounds we have been able to ensure the series remains as a stand-alone category," he said.
"This will also encourage competitors to compete in all rounds of the championship, and non-championship 30-lap race at the V8 Supercar 1000 (Bathurst).”
|
|
