Scv8?

[Snapper Baz]

SCV8-where were these other teams/drivers going to come from? And how much different cost wise would it be to run a car in this than in a privateer entry in BTCC-I doubt if there would an awful lot in it, and if that is the case WHY would anyone bother with SCV8?

yours "Snappingly"
Barry

[johnw]

Originally posted by Snapper Baz
And how much different cost wise would it be to run a car in this than in a privateer entry in BTCC-I doubt if there would an awful lot in it, and if that is the case WHY would anyone bother with SCV8?

Dunno about anyone else, but RWD, more power than grip and a chance of a win would do it for me.

[Redlake27]

SCV8 will only succeed with manufacturer support. And whilst permission may have been given to use bodystyles, this hardly consitutes 'support'. If you want top drivers, not rent a drivers, it is only the manufacturers who will spend over £100K for the kind of coverage a national championship gets. Look at BTCC, take the Honda and Vauxhall logos off the cars and there are very few true commercial sponsors. The days of Kaliber, Old Spice and Nescafe have gone.

My solution would be for SCV8 to reinvent itself as the ultimate one make series. Why have different bodystyles if the manufacturers aren't paying and the cars are the same underneath?

Sell the whole package to MG Rover or Vauxhall, fit MG ZT or Monaro bodies, and suddenly the SCV8 idea could come to life again

[ss_collins]

nah there are already enough series in the UK - let Britcar take all the big bangers, thats the future.

[Ron Doe]

I think manufacturer support would KILL SCV8. Politics, rising costs, etc, etc
In terms of the amount of coverage, if you'd got Mark Blundell in an MG against (who was talking seriously to the organisers) against John Cleland in Vauxhall and Ian Flux in a Ford, you'd get the coverage regardless

[BertMk2]

Originally posted by Ron Doe
I think manufacturer support would KILL SCV8. Politics, rising costs, etc, etc

Totally agree, manufacturers get involved and costs rise, manufacturers then leave because of the high cost and leave the series struggling or dead. It's happened loads of times - the BTCC is still trying to recover from the mass manufacturer withdrawal at the end of the ST era, formula one and the WRC are both doomed if the manufacturers bail out.

SCV8 wouldn't have the high development costs associated with manufacturer backed series - the cars are all the same under the skin, the parts are controlled. The car you finish the season with is identical in spec to the car you started the season with - there are no updates to aero or engine - therefore reduced costs (no R&D budget).

[Snapper Baz]

Also remember-this series was to have happened some years ago but never got far-to many new series I think said the RAC...or something like that!

[Redlake27]

Yes.....but when ones says that "The BTCC is still trying to recover from the mass manufacturer withdrawal", at least it had manufacturer support in the first place, and still does to a lesser extent. In tin-top racing manufacturer support is the best way of paying for TV coverage, which in turn makes it a more attractive series. SCV8 had missed this out of their business plan.

[Ron Doe]

SCV8 did not want, need or encourage manufacturer support. It was not part of the plan, because it was not wanted.
They had the finance and the backing to do it themselves. This was one of the fundamental points of their entire philosophy...

[ss_collins]

SCV8 simply came at the wrong time. try again in five years

[R59]

"SCV8 simply came at the wrong time. try again in five years"

I think that's just what he did! It must be three years or more ago when Andy first muted Supercars. About the same time as they announced the V8Stars in Germany.

And as for Thundersaloons.

Fingers crossed, the new (ahem) Vauxhall V8 will be there at the first round on Monday 12th April at Silverstone.

Rob.