Aussie Driver in CCWS???????

mabs_nsx · 14 Jan 2005, 04:22 (Ref:1200528)

Does anyone know if there is going to be any Australian drivers in CCWS in the 2005 season?????????

mac · 14 Jan 2005, 05:09 (Ref:1200543)

Marcus Marshall is the only hope. I believe he was speaking with Walker, PKV and Dale Coyne. I have heard that he is very close to finalising something with one of them.

Chucky · 14 Jan 2005, 05:52 (Ref:1200558)

"He's not the only hope, there is another."

Yoda
The Empire Strikes Back.

stoned pony · 14 Jan 2005, 05:56 (Ref:1200559)

So come on, Chucky, fill us in.

evo · 14 Jan 2005, 07:04 (Ref:1200581)

It was his sister, the princess.... Geez!

marcus · 14 Jan 2005, 07:24 (Ref:1200592)

nothing has been heard of this much really since straight after Besnards great run at Surfers.

Craig Gore of WPS racing stated that he will fund a driver for a full year in champcar , who that driver will be he didnt say.

Marcus marshall has tested well lately and looks fairly likely at getting a shot.

But dont count Christian Murchison out , he is still in with a shot and there maybe a slight chance of james Courtney.

but this has been going on for ages and i just wish they would tell us something ?????

BootsOntheSide · 14 Jan 2005, 12:14 (Ref:1200798)

An Australian dirver for the wqhole season would be a good addition, although I wonder if there's anyone with the talent and experience to do it jsutice right now. The appeal of ChampCars at Surfer's is lower than ever, and the addition of a local star for the full season would surely help.

Chucky · 15 Jan 2005, 01:31 (Ref:1201329)

I believe it will come down to 4 or 5 in a test shootout to be ran soon.

Boots, the Gold Coast Indy's crowd was as big as it's ever been. Where did you get the idea that interest was waning? It's porbably got a better following in Australia than the US!

And there is plenty of talent down here. Michael Caruso (2003 Aust. F3 Champ) would be a good start. Or Barton Mawer, who was runne rup to Caruso in the same year and has done OK in Brit F3 Scholarship despite not having a budget to speak of. Murcho is past it (was he ever there?) but James Courtney would be sensational in a Champ Car.

I wonder if any of those names will be at the test?

Chucky · 15 Jan 2005, 01:32 (Ref:1201330)

Although the biggest stumbling block to all of this is one of the reasons for it happening in the first place.

camcartfan · 15 Jan 2005, 09:44 (Ref:1201461)

I've been starting to watch the V8's on Speed and have been impressed with Marcos Ambrose. I've seen his name on this board somewhere, but can't find it. Couple of ignorant questions:
1. Is he Australian?
2. If yes, why not him?

Troy · 15 Jan 2005, 10:09 (Ref:1201468)

Will Power for a drive.

astinus4 · 15 Jan 2005, 10:15 (Ref:1201471)

Quote:

I've been starting to watch the V8's on Speed and have been impressed with Marcos Ambrose. I've seen his name on this board somewhere, but can't find it. Couple of ignorant questions:
1. Is he Australian?
2. If yes, why not him?

1. Yes he's an Aussie.

2. I believe that he's contractually well and truly locked into V8 supercars for the forseeable future. I can't see Ford and Stone Brother's Racing letting go of a guy who's delivered them 2 consecutive championships. Besides, even if he could go I doubt that he'd want to. He's top dog in the V8s at the moment both on the track and financially as well I assume. He'd be taking a hell of a risk to give up all that to start afresh in an openwheeler category, and presumably with a mid pack or back marker team as well.

It'd be a huge publicity coup for champcar in Australia if it happens because Marcos, along with many v8 supercar drivers, is already a household name here. Unfortunately I just don't think it's feasible (for the same reasons Jeff Gordon isn't going to leave Nascar for F1).

mountainstar · 15 Jan 2005, 20:16 (Ref:1201706)

Marcus makes a $1 mil AUD$ salary plus other perks in V8's. He does have a ford contract though to 2009, but I do believe I heard him say that contract could be voided if a good overseas drive came up.

pferrf1 · 16 Jan 2005, 00:19 (Ref:1201895)

I was in Surfers this year. That was not a CCWS race - it was a V8s race. I'd say the ration of fans was 70-30 in favour of the V8s.

**GTRMagic** · 16 Jan 2005, 00:23 (Ref:1201898)

Isnt the CCWS powered by Ford? Its not impossible for Marcos Ambrose to move, there is a clause on his deal with SBR/Ford to allow him to escape for a while if he wanted to... but it would more than likely require an offer from Newman Haas to become #1 driver before it would even be entertained.... plus the accompanying shedload of $$$$

Raglanparade · 16 Jan 2005, 00:24 (Ref:1201901)

I agree with that. Surfers used to be about the Indycars. But over the last 3 years, we have seen an elevation of the v8 Supercars to an official championship round.

I know guys who just travel up there for the v8's and a holiday.

That wasn't an autocensor-dodge?
- Macdaddy

camcartfan · 16 Jan 2005, 02:41 (Ref:1201963)

How about a one off for Marcos then?

**GTRMagic** · 16 Jan 2005, 02:45 (Ref:1201964)

It wouldnt be impossible, although it would likely not be at Surfers, as he will probably be in the Supercar championship hunt still by that time...

Marcos is scheduled to run at Daytona this year in an ex-TRG 911 GT3CC... be interesting to see if they can get the car on the pace...

mac · 16 Jan 2005, 23:01 (Ref:1202600)

Courtney will be Toyota's number one driver in JGTC this year, all but ruling him out of a possible CCWS drive.

Ambrose has a stellar open-wheel history, including out-qualifying a certain Mr Raikkonen and a certain Mr Button in a certain Formula Ford festival a few years ago. If he could have found the cash, I have no doubt he would be in F1 at the moment.

There is plenty of talent around, but the right deal needs to be brokered - and right now, Marshall is closest to finding that deal.

astinus4 · 17 Jan 2005, 09:56 (Ref:1202832)

Quote:

I was in Surfers this year. That was not a CCWS race - it was a V8s race. I'd say the ration of fans was 70-30 in favour of the V8s.

I was there too and have to agree ... to an extent. I think it's accurate to say that most of the racing fans were there for the v8s - but I think the vast majority of the people who attended were just there for the event/party/perving.

Which part of the track were you at pferrf1? I remember seeing a group of 3 or 4 Canadians at turn 2 during Saturday practice. Were you one of them?

Hazza · 17 Jan 2005, 11:16 (Ref:1202877)

And by the way, the consesnus was after the race when I went in 2002 was:

"What do they mean that guy won even though he finshed in 8th" Championship? Whats the championship?

And by the way, when there were doubts about CART making it through the winter, the organisers said they had a "backup plan" for the Honda 300, what was it?

Raglanparade · 17 Jan 2005, 12:37 (Ref:1202928)

The back up plan was turn the Honda 300 into a V8 Round, something that they did..

You see.. the V8's at the GC indy was never a championship round before the CART boys got in trouble.

BootsOntheSide · 17 Jan 2005, 12:50 (Ref:1202940)

I'm sure the Surfer's event would live on as a successful V8 one if ChampCars was lost - the audience is probably quite split by now. Getting an Aussie driver would be a good way to safegound it, and there are some guys out there, like Marshall and Ambrose, who have some potential.

pferrf1 · 18 Jan 2005, 03:05 (Ref:1203453)

Getting a guy like Ambrose into a CCWS seat would be like taking a current NASCAR star and throwing him into a CCWS seat in the US. It would get the series instant attention in Australia and interest the fans that much more. It would be a smart move.

Proabably why it won't happen.

Chucky · 18 Jan 2005, 03:06 (Ref:1203454)

Marcus would be good ina Champ Car. He did well in French and Brit F3 on very little budget.

But there is another.............

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