Thread: V8 Racing Ute Series May Be Open To Diesels

This is what the future of V8 ute racing may look like.This Article From Speedcafe.

New-gen racing utes like the Nissan Navara shown it the pictures could sport diesel engines.Diesel engines could feature in the V8 Ute racing series when it's next-generation rule package debuts in 2016,category organisers have revealed.

The series is currently finalising well publicised pland to move away from its current Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore-based utes to larger pick-up trucks,such as the Ford Ranger and Holden Colorado.As previously reported,the change will see a common rail chassis introduced,to which different manufactures bodies can be fitted.

While the category had stated the next-gen vehicles will need to adopt a V8 engine from the corresponding manufactures 'family' category manager Craig Denyer says it will enter upcoming talks with manufacturers open-minded."I wouldn't say we'd be closed to it at all,"Denyer told speedcafe of seeing diesel engines as soon as 2016.

"We've got to determine what the final specs (of the new rule package) are,which we're close to,and then we'll go to the manufacturers and say 'this is what it's going to be.' "We'll very quickly i think get an indication of who wants to play and who doesn't.

"If a manufacturer says 'we want to play in this series but we really want to run a diesel engine because that's basically what the DNA of our current brand is',then we'd be open to it." V8 Utes' own technical staff held a meeting with a range of category consultants last week,from which Denyer says a "fairly clear idea of the final specs" of the new Utes was reached.

A board meeting in early August is now scheduled to see a rubber stamping of the regulations and the final call on who will build the 32 chassis.The hope is to have the prototype ready by the end of the year ahead of track testing.What body shape and the engine the prototype will feature is yet to be decided.

"We're in talks with a couple of makers who see the benefits of having a vehicle on display in the lead up to 2016." The category hopes that the finished prototype will entice more makers,either through direct involvement or dealer based programs to get involved.

The bulk of the grid is expected to be made up of Colorados and Rangers due to the ability to carryover the current 475bhp 5.0L Ford Coyote and the 6.2L Chevrolet engines from the current Holden and Ford.

Mazda's BT-50 is being touted as a strong possibility for the first season as it shares so much with the Ranger.The new chassis is about 300kilos lighter and is expected to be 2-3 seconds faster at Bathurst.

That's the main body of the article check out speedcafe for the full report.

You better start now, Vlad.