Sandown 500 is back

Crash Test · 2 Jun 2001, 06:53 (Ref:100067)

What do you think? A race for Nations Cup cars....will it be a goer or not?

Also, from what I gather the 3-hour GTP race at Bathurst is a no-go this year...will this discourage many of the drivers in the lower classes? Bathurst really was the pinacle of their year...

RaceTime · 2 Jun 2001, 06:56 (Ref:100070)

As far s Pro Car are concerned - yes it is going ahead.

As for Bathurst being their pinnacle - for who? Little TV/media coverage hasn't helped them really, has it?

Crash Test · 2 Jun 2001, 07:02 (Ref:100073)

The 4 hour would have been the pinacle for the competitors. 3 hours (ok, 2 and a bit hours last year) of live tv (when compared to 10 minute highlights from the sprint rouns) it was easily their biggest meeting of the year. Also this is where all of the competitors wanted to race, last year they had over 70 entries for the race....

I know there were a few locals who were interested in having a run this year, but now that isn't going to happen.

I wonder what they are going to replace it with? The 30 lap race for the DNQ Konica cars shouldn't take up too much time...

RaceTime · 2 Jun 2001, 07:28 (Ref:100075)

Have to ask if it is considered that Saturday live TV is a bonus for them though - particularly at a race meeting that has what? 10 hours on Sunday?

Crash Test · 2 Jun 2001, 11:27 (Ref:100128)

Well I'd say if given the preference of live TV or no Tv at all, I know which one I would pick

I'd say that the ratings wouldn't be too bad, they wouldn't be going up against too many other sports, and a fair few people would be hanging around for the top-10 shootout. I think the Utes are going to be racing there... I'd probably prefer to see 55 production cars than 20 utes go around...

DAVID PATERSON · 3 Jun 2001, 10:23 (Ref:100382)

The loss of Bathurst will strike a very severe blow to GTP, I think a lot of the cars in the class were really only in it for Bathurst.

"There is only Bathurst, the rest is just waiting." - Allan Moffat.

As to Sandown, well i struggle to see the logic in running an endurance race, on a big track, for a class that is struggling for numbers, primarily due to increasing costs and a lack of crowd support.

nz_tourer · 3 Jun 2001, 12:17 (Ref:100460)

so when is the Sandown event?

RaceTime · 3 Jun 2001, 12:20 (Ref:100464)

September - Sandown dates on this page http://www.racetime.com.au/cals/sandown.htm

DNQ · 4 Jun 2001, 03:32 (Ref:100863)

Well, I hope it's a success. Hope they get some decent support categories and live TV coverage.

racer69 · 5 Jun 2001, 10:00 (Ref:101389)

i think the 500 is for nations cup and class a GT-P cars, which should be an alright field. Someone told me a ludicrous thing that the race is going to be split into two 250km segments, one on saterday and the other on sunday, how dumb is that. should be a good race though.

Ray Bell · 5 Jun 2001, 12:28 (Ref:101435)

It might just work, the date is a tradition, it's not the class but the race that was always a success at Sandown. Might be good for the class to run out on their own, too. Promotion will be the key, a bit of controversy in the leadup won't hurt.

Crash Test · 5 Jun 2001, 12:36 (Ref:101440)

Plus at a place like Sandwon they are in everyones faces....but out in the sticks like Wakefield Park or QR...

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