V8 SuperTourers Round 4 (Taupo) - Pics/Results/Rumour

[HProject]

So - are anyone else among us making the trip to Taupo for the SuperTourers this weekend?

Me and four other photogs are all driving down in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Should be a good weekend.

Apparently the weekend temperature high is a toasty warm 12 degrees. Bloody yay

Murph surely has the sprint championship in the bag. Has anyone done the maths to figure out how low he has to finish to lose it from here?

I'll try and post updates and pics as the weekend progresses, although apparently the internet at the track is shocking.

A few new liveries have been applied in the V8CC for this weekend - Nigel Karl and Jack Kofoed's pair of Falcons, which now both look quite schmick Particularly the rear-wing end-plates on Kofoed's car...

Will keep tabs on what the crowds look like and any tid-bits of info heard here and there.

[NZSTfan]

Yep agree with you HP Jacks new livery will make his car the best looker for sure. I'll try to catch up with you on sunday as I have a favour to ask of you that involves your camera skills.
We are heading down satdee night and staying in a motel in prep for Sundays action. I have never seen any racing at taupo before so me n the missus are looking forward to it.
Murph to take the sprint title for sure unless something major goes wrong with the car. If he does win it will be his first tin top title from what I can tell.
Good call too on starting a round thread.
See ya sunday bro

[HProject]

Originally Posted by NZSTfan

Yep agree with you HP Jacks new livery will make his car the best looker for sure. I'll try to catch up with you on sunday as I have a favour to ask of you that involves your camera skills.

Better not be anything dirty.

I've.....seen things

[NZSTfan]

Haha. I've seen 'things' to, but don't worry, all above board. Naturally....
Just had another look at the end plates of Kofoeds Falcon too, they do look nice I must say, as do the front guards and bumper.....wink wink

[GHOGH]

Scott M had a chat with Darcy on Radio Sport today.
Made a few points on the V8SC versus ST etc. 15.00 to 16.00, 29/8
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/listen-o.../weekondemand/

[adbutler]

Anybody know if the elusive Hyundai is going to be on display? Really want to see what this thing looks like.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by adbutler

Anybody know if the elusive Hyundai is going to be on display? Really want to see what this thing looks like.

Sorry to have to disappoint anybody, however, the long awaited launch of my I45 is still "dragging the chain" but we will have it finished in time for the last round of the Enduro's at Pukekohe, and hopefully we can find a suitable team that is in a position to run it, even if it's only a one off race meeting for the car.

Mark Petch.

[adbutler]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Sorry to have to disappoint anybody, however, the long awaited launch of my I45 is still "dragging the chain" but we will have it finished in time for the last round of the Enduro's at Pukekohe, and hopefully we can find a suitable team that is in a position to run it, even if it's only a one off race meeting for the car.

Mark Petch.

Cheers for the update Mark. Can't wait to see how it looks.

[Biggy G]

Any news as to why the McLennan M2 car isn't present?

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by Biggy G

Any news as to why the McLennan M2 car isn't present?

Fair question, but I doubt you will get a straight answer on this one even from me, after all this is a public forum.

Have to say the cars have got even faster since they were last at Taupo, Scott Mclaughlin's time was just outstanding, a low i.28 on a cold day, he should walk the weekend on that performance. Murph struggled in the 2nd qualifying session for race 2 as did SVG, so should be a thrilling race day tomorrow.


.

[Point2]

A few new liveries have been applied in the V8CC for this weekend - Nigel Karl and Jack Kofoed's pair of Falcons, which now both look quite schmick Particularly the rear-wing end-plates on Kofoed's car...

Yes it looks great. Very happy with how our branding was displayed.
Hope they got issues sorted overnight and will e back into it today

[adbutler]

Sounds like an interesting days racing. I caught bits and pieces of the racing on the live streaming and it looked like there was some good racing. Hopefully someone who was there can fill us in on all the goss.

[HProject]

Originally Posted by adbutler

Sounds like an interesting days racing. I caught bits and pieces of the racing on the live streaming and it looked like there was some good racing. Hopefully someone who was there can fill us in on all the goss.

Just got home from Taupo. Bloody fantastic weekend for me - love the Taupo facility. Enjoyed shooting for M3 Racing, who were very accommodating. And that final race was just nutty. I suspect there's a number of stories that might not be explained fully until the show is aired in a week's time.

Will get some of my pics up tomorrow My Murph podium-pic has been viewed by nearly 3000 people on Facebook so far which is pretty good going. For now, I'm pooped.

[HProject]

Pics. Some Saturday stuff first.

[adbutler]

Cheers for the pics. Eddie Bells car looks fantastic. Did they get a decent number along to watch?

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by adbutler

Sounds like an interesting days racing. I caught bits and pieces of the racing on the live streaming and it looked like there was some good racing. Hopefully someone who was there can fill us in on all the goss.

Hi ad,
What I can tell you is that Andre Heimgartner set a new V8ST lap record of 1.29.1 seconds, some 1.8 seconds quicker than the previous V8ST lap record, now that is fast in any bodies language.

.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Hi ad,
What I can tell you is that Andre Heimgartner set a new V8ST lap record of 1.29.1 seconds, some 1.8 seconds quicker than the previous V8ST lap record, now that is fast in any bodies language.

.

What no mention of him running a different spark plug not a control one and his muppet rub on scott. You talk it up like gloss and it aint that.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by Blackpearl

What no mention of him running a different spark plug not a control one and his muppet rub on scott. You talk it up like gloss and it aint that.

BP, please re-read my post I am talking about the category and the cars, not Andre, he merely happened to record the fastest lap ever laid down by a V8 Supertourer.

In my opinion both Heimgartner and Pederson should have started from the back of the grid, absolutely no excuse for their cars being fitted with non standard spark plugs, but as you well know not my problem anymore.


.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by adbutler

Sounds like an interesting days racing. I caught bits and pieces of the racing on the live streaming and it looked like there was some good racing. Hopefully someone who was there can fill us in on all the goss.

Hi there was some good racing, most of the incidents were caused by the current v8supercar drivers or past...murph.

[Swedish Brick]

Good grief is it possible its gotten WORSE

This differing rules and lack of penalties has been going since day 1.
What a joke

[NZSTfan]

Anyway......moving along. We had a great time at Taupo on the Sunday. Great crowd turn-out (bigger than last year according to some punters), nice weather, the drivers seemed to behave themselves (as in they half the field didn't crash out at T1), and good food too. Highly recommend the wood-fired pizza.

But of course big congrats to Murph who won the Sprint Title. Race 3 was just epic to watch, and to see SVG go from pole to 2nd to last, and then move his way up to second again was phenomenal. My man of the of the match though goes to Paul Manuell, I thought he did very well in R3.

Taupo is such a nice facility and sitting up on the bank just before the final chicane enabled you to see most of the track. Good crowds on said bank.

Gutted for Jack Kofoed who had an oil pressure problem and could not run. He had just had his car re-liveried (if that is a word??) and his car looked great....but unfortunately for this round it was parked up.

Cant comment on the spark plug issue, and don't really want to get into the usual 'he said she said' debate that tends to go on here. But one thing I will add is that Eddie Bells rear lights have been tinted from day 1, and most cars have had tinted windows from last year....so who really cares (well, I guess some on here seem to).

Also big-ups to Andy Booth for finally winning a race Watching you battle with Murph was cool, until he had to pull in for a pitlane penalty.

Now you can all go back to your squabbling and pointless banter which does nothing for the sport or the series. Just remember that cars have to pass scrutineering first so maybe the issues raised above are not really 'issues' to be fussed about.

But no doubt some of you will make your usual mountain out of a molehill, instead of being supportive of a class that is just better than any other V8 category we have in NZ.

[CDM]

Originally Posted by NZSTfan

Anyway......moving along.

...

Now you can all go back to your squabbling and pointless banter which does nothing for the sport or the series.

But no doubt some of you will make your usual mountain out of a molehill, instead of being supportive of a class that is just better than any other V8 category we have in NZ.

Why try to sweep this under the carpet... "Moving along"...

So you think that teams & fans discussing pretty serious allegations of cheating is pointless and does nothing for the sport? So do you also think that someone like Lance Armstrong's drug cheating doesnt damage the sport of cycling?? Cheating has & will damage both the V8ST Series and Motorsport in general.

Dont get me wrong I feel this class has the potential to be great, but all this BS with rules for some & different rules for others is just ridiculous...

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by NZSTfan

Anyway......moving along. We had a great time at Taupo on the Sunday. Great crowd turn-out (bigger than last year according to some punters), nice weather, the drivers seemed to behave themselves (as in they half the field didn't crash out at T1), and good food too. Highly recommend the wood-fired pizza.

But of course big congrats to Murph who won the Sprint Title. Race 3 was just epic to watch, and to see SVG go from pole to 2nd to last, and then move his way up to second again was phenomenal. My man of the of the match though goes to Paul Manuell, I thought he did very well in R3.

Taupo is such a nice facility and sitting up on the bank just before the final chicane enabled you to see most of the track. Good crowds on said bank.

Gutted for Jack Kofoed who had an oil pressure problem and could not run. He had just had his car re-liveried (if that is a word??) and his car looked great....but unfortunately for this round it was parked up.

Cant comment on the spark plug issue, and don't really want to get into the usual 'he said she said' debate that tends to go on here. But one thing I will add is that Eddie Bells rear lights have been tinted from day 1, and most cars have had tinted windows from last year....so who really cares (well, I guess some on here seem to).

Also big-ups to Andy Booth for finally winning a race Watching you battle with Murph was cool, until he had to pull in for a pitlane penalty.

Now you can all go back to your squabbling and pointless banter which does nothing for the sport or the series. Just remember that cars have to pass scrutineering first so maybe the issues raised above are not really 'issues' to be fussed about.

But no doubt some of you will make your usual mountain out of a molehill, instead of being supportive of a class that is just better than any other V8 category we have in NZ.

Turn your blinkers off, you dont know how frustrasted teams are at the way the rules are broken.

The sad thing is they check the top % of cars, find a non complience report it to the stewards who do nothing.

[Goat Boy]

Originally Posted by Blackpearl

Turn your blinkers off, you dont know how frustrasted teams are at the way the rules are broken.

The sad thing is they check the top % of cars, find a non complience report it to the stewards who do nothing.

Everyone better start cheating then!

[Biggy G]

Originally Posted by Goat Boy

Everyone better start cheating then!

Give the cars to a third party, let them check them and see who's allowed to run? Could make for a quiet weekend

Or here's another one, chuck all those engines on a dyno again