The V8 Supercars, Australia's most popular motor racing series, has been aired exclusively in Europe on Motors TV for the past decade. Australians love their motor sport and the V8's enjoy an equal following as Aussie rules football and cricket. The stars, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, James Courtney, Garth Tander, Rick Kelly, Todd Kelly, Greg Murphy, Russell Ingall are all house-hold names down under...and two iconic car makers, Holden and Ford, supply the muscle and every fan has his or her preference.
The championship kicks-off in Abu Dhabi and the season's biggest race, Bathurst in early October, is held on one of the world's most amazing circuits, Mount Panorama, and offers a 1000kms of non-stop, high-speed madness, all of which is shown live on Motors TV! This clasicc endurance race is preceded by the 500km 'warm-up' race on the picturesque Phillip Island track. Since 2010, there is another must-see V8 meeting : Surfers Paradise, where foreign drivers get their chance to experience the V8-power on the streets of the Gold Coast community. Sébastien Bourdais, Jacques Villeneuve, Yvan Muller, Andy Priaulx are just some of the international stars expected for 2011…Motors TV will also air the opening round of the Australian series from Abu Dhabi live.
The big question for 2011 will be if Whincup will be able to retake his title, which was magnificantly conquered last year by Courtney. A near surprise in as much as Whincup was by far and a way the top driver in 2010, but suffered too many point-free outings. Courtney's increased maturity paid dividends. This year, he has changed teams and brings his number to one of the most successful teams in the field: HRT, replacing Will Davison alongside Garth Tander.
Runner-up in 2009, Will Davison had a dreadful 2010. he is now at FPR for 2011 where he forced Steven Richards into semi-retirement – he will though compete in the endurance races. Davison even has harsh words for HRT, “they rest on their laurels” and hopes to allow the David Richards owned FPR to win the title and/or Bathurst. Other changes took place in the team this past winter, the most significant being the transfer of Greg Murphy to Kelly Racing where he will swap his famous number 51 to 11.
Also worth noting are a few rule changes. Only six rounds, including the endurance races feature the Top Ten Shootout, the other rounds use a two 20-minute qualifying format. The sprint tyres will be the only rubber used at seven rounds.
Website: www.v8supercars.com.au
Twitter: @v8supercars
Facebook: www.facebook.com/v8supercars
Launched in 2001 the
V8 Ute Racing Series caters for production-based pickup trucks and boasts a grid of 16 Holden SS Commodores and Ford BF Falcon XR8 V8s with a stellar cast of drivers.
The Australian-based series supports the V8 Supercar Championship at several rounds and has three-race format, including a fully-reversed grid.
Watch one-hour highlights of every round on Motors TV in 2011.
Website: www.v8utes.com.au
International
