Thread: Ford to quit V8 Supercars at end of 2015

Regardless if you like the current format or not,this article is a very good read.

TIMELINE: Ford's Australian touring car history - Speedcafe

Originally Posted by timax

People dont want a big car.

I dont 100% buy into that comment. Yes theres no shortage of smaller sedans and hatchbacks running around nowdays, theres also no shortage of 200 series cruisers, prados and every brand of 4wd duel cab running around on the streets so people are still buying big cars. And its not the fuel consumption thing either - last time I looked the selling cars where some of the heaviest on fuel in their respective classes.

Volvo seem to be having no issues with the racing attracting sales and new buyers:
Volvo S60 sales boosted by V8 Supercars entry, says company

To me the current most entertaining form of "production" racing is the V8 utes. Theres no shortage of background work to keep parity in that class either. However with the demise of the local V8 ute manufacturing they to are looking at building a control chassis with manufacturers panels - potentially diesel engines too last I read......

Holden and Ford local production failed to adapt to the market. Or they tried half arsed variants that were doomed to failure.

Their history is littered with half arsed attempts or "too little too late" stories in all the categories that are now the mainstay of the car market, namely:

4x4s
Diesels
4 cyls

Originally Posted by Pickles2

I suppose one of the things that doesn't happen in V8 Supercars is that there's not a great deal of overtaking,..and that is because the cars are so close. But is that a bad thing, at least ya don't have someone winning by 6 laps like Brock did at Bathurst in '79.

But watching them try can be entertaining. Watching a car following another at 160+ kph with 10mm between the bumpers and when trying to overtake often swapping paint.

Although not as fast as F1, to me far more entertaining as you don't get my above comments in F1.

Seee my post 64 and 69,..I mention "Sponsorship".
LATEST news,.......and terrible news, ...Nick Percat out of a drive next year,...reason,...lack of a sponsor.
It is a real worry, when you see a REALLY good young driver, with everything to offer, lose his ride.
Speedcafe has the details. Pickles.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

"tech knowledge & people",....Of course, he needed both to get into V8 Supercars, but that was not the point of my question.
My question was "Why did Roger Penske decide to get involved with V8 Supercars"?
Pickles.

I mean snaffling ideas/ tech / good people to take back racing in the USA.

I doubt his commitment to 'whatever replaces v8 supercars' will be long term.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

I mean snaffling ideas/ tech / good people to take back racing in the USA.

I doubt his commitment to 'whatever replaces v8 supercars' will be long term.

No, I wouldn't agree with that.
Plenty of good people in the States, and many of the engineers in V8 supercars are from Europe, so no, He wouldn't need to come here for any expertise in that area.
Penske owns the Western Star rights in Aus, & has also started up a mega truck rental business,....maybe something to do with that, or maybe the Series just appealed to him,...another challenge,...something else to win?
I really don't have any idea what the real reason is, but I'm bloody glad that He's in, because it's a HUGE shot in the arm for the brand.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

I mean snaffling ideas/ tech / good people to take back racing in the USA.


I doubt his commitment to 'whatever replaces v8 supercars' will be long term.

I doubt a man of his standing in Motorsport would commit to anything he would not be a success at,his record speaks for itself. He is here for the long haul and the sport will be better for it.