V8 Supercars has announced it will allow turbocharged four-cylinder and six-cylinder cars, as well as V8s from 2017 under its new Gen2 Supercar blueprint, but is it a good idea?
V8 SUPERCARS HAS opened the door for turbocharged four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and V8-powered vehicles to enter V8 Supercars from 2017 under its new Gen2 Supercar blueprint. Beyond V8 Supercars, its decision to allow new engines and bring in new car makers, has been welcomed by drivers, like Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander.
Indeed, 2014 Champion elect and soon-to-be six-time championship winner, Jamie Whincup, said “I’m all for change – if you sit on your hands too long you end up going backwards”.
“We’ve got a fantastic team at V8 Supercars at the moment who are keeping up with the times, and I think it’s really exciting. To have more manufacturers in ans different engines, I think it’s a great thing for the sport. I’m really looking forward to seeing the future unfold.”
According to V8 Supercars, the changes are “designed to be more relevant to more manufacturers, race teams, sponsors and fans while continuing V8 Supercars’ promise of providing fans with the ultimate in high octane entertainment”.
“The top-line guidelines dictate that the car must be publicly available for sale in Australia, is front engine, right hand drive and a full four-seat configuration. The race car must be rear-wheel drive and accurately reflect the look of the road car, retaining the essential DNA of the sport. All cars will use the existing Car of the Future chassis and control components, and be subject to engine and aero parity rules,” V8 Supercars said in a statement.
“It is imperative to keep the sport relevant to the current environment, entertaining and, critically, viable for the race teams,” V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said.
“The current climate in world motorsport is absolutely clear. Manufacturers want choice in what they go racing with, otherwise they won’t participate. They want their DNA represented and so do we. We will not compromise our DNA – fast, loud and fierce racing.”
V8 Supercars said it would establish two working groups that, over the next 12 months would focus on engine configuration and body configuration to ensure that no one type of engine has an advantage over another.
The decision to allow a variety of engine types in V8 Supercars from 2017 opens the door for the likes of Lexus, which has expressed interest in joining the series if the rules were changed – and they now have been. The decision even, potentially, gives Ford the opportunity to return to V8 Supercars with its new Mustang.
The introduction of the Gen2 Supercar in 2017 will also see V8 Supercars drop the V8 from its name, becoming just Supercars from 2017. The new branding, to be launched in 2015 and revealed yesterday, reflects this change.
