EuroV8 Series 2014

[Azy]

Yeah, what a disaster this race. They should allow turbo, then can be more cars in this awesome series.

[Speed-King]

Is there really no money? Italian GT seems to be doing quite fine for a change this year, but both touring car series (EV8 and CITE ) are in deep trouble. CITE only had five cars as well at Pergusa and 12 or so for the race before.

I think sometimes the problem isn't so much money, but people's confidence in the product they are supposed to spend it on and that's when a new ruleset or series leadership can make a big difference. If TC3 really takes off, I guess that could inspire people to invest in touring cars again.

[DS"]

Isn't there supposed to be a relaunch in 2015 as the "SuperTouring Series" or something, bankrolled by the organizing body? I guess we won't see something like that.

Well, Superstars was a gigantic bubble, but I didn't really expect it to burst it in such a short time. I mean, most "bubble" series get at least 5-6 years to shine but Superstars only had like 3-4 "good" (As in sizable grids and such) years. Maybe it's a good thing, because touring car racing badly needs a cleansing process, before something new can arise out of its ashes again.

[Speed-King]

I think touring car racing has just about burned enough... TC3 really might be the catalyst it needs to rebuild.

As for Superstars, and since I was speaking about customer confidence a bit earlier: With a season like this - even though it was billed as a transitional season, that confidence might just have evaporated. Will be interesting to see what comes from that camp in the next weeks and months.

If they can convince the current teams that they have a plan and are able to drum up 6-8 firm commitments for a secondary class, the whole thing might still have chance, but that's gonna be hard work.

[Wheels of Fire]

In this moment I don't see a future for this series.I can't.
Maybe teams (or other teams that will purchase the existent cars) will recycle their cars in some national series (CITE for example where a couple of years ago raced a Mercedes C63 AMG ex-Rangoni and BMWs).I don't really believe that we are about to see Super Touring Series or something similar,and I'm talking as a lover of this series.
Now I'm putting my hopes in the TC3,but I'm sad to know that we won't see big V8 cars like Superstars.

[Speed-King]

Well, the cars still exist and I don't think we'd be that gloomy if the 12 cars that started had actually finished the race. It was a bit off the "guaranteed" 16 cars that the organizers wanted to have on the grid for all events this year, but it was always gonna be a transitional season.

If they stick to the original plan, Daniele Audetto's PARE group will take over as the organizer next year, and the current teams signed on knowing about that, so there's some hope that they at least will stick around. The rest depends on Audetto's ability (read:€€€) to drum up support either from the V8 ranks or for a new secondary category.

[FIRE]

Couple of years ago it was a great series.

I think the main problem is that they could not attract non-Italian teams and drivers.

[rustyfan]

I wonder if they ever considered adopting rules similar to the V8 SuperCars. The EuroV8 cars seem sluggish in comparison. I assume they are down on horsepower compared to the SuperCars though.

[FIRE]

Except the "V8" in the name they have nothing in common.

However I would like to see the series adopts the technical rules of BNT V8 Supertourers. You could say this is a light/cheaper version of V8 Supercars. In short: spec engine (GM 7L V8, 575 bhp) and spec spaceframe chassis with road car body. In Europe they could use Volvo S60, BMW 5 series, Audi A6 bodies. Unfortunately it's not realistic....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7CX...dzpv2_8amo29nw

[Speed-King]

Audi Sport Italia are selling off their cars:

http://www.audisportitalia.it/articolo.php?id=744

Not sure there will be any takers in open series like STT or DMV-TCC for them. They are just too slow compared to the cars they'd be most likely slotted into a class with. And running them in VLN sounds like proper masochism... getting those things endurance ready seems a considerable task.

[Speed-King]

https://twitter.com/Bazzzz1986/statu...99376804478976

Well, looks like there actually are some takers for ex-Euro-V8s...

Doesn't look good for the future of the series then, does it? No cars, no series. Guess we should no more by early december (Bologna Motorshow)

[Adamcas87]

Might of been mentioned somewhere but is there any news on this series? Is it dead in the water?

I Loved there visits to Donnington park and also for filled a childhood dream of mine by doing the Grid walk the second time they came will never forget that

[Speed-King]

Seems like it's dead... CITE (another Italian TC series) issued a press release recently saying that the ex-SuperStars BMWs would be welcome to run in their series provided they reduce displacement to 3500ccm.

[Speed-King]

FWIW, the series' website is offline now:

http://www.eurov8series.com/

[FIRE]

For a few seasons it was great, especially the cars.

The series failed to grow outside Italy. I think that's the main reason the series collapsed. Italy itself was not strong enough to keep the series going.

[GusGasfuss]

Thats really sad, i have seen it as a series, that lives in the spirit of old Group A!
Cars, that are loud and fast, but in real body shells, not prototype or silhouettes. And of course, there were a lot of cars, that could be in the right type (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, etc.). Was really fun to see them.

I also see the problem - not popular outside of Italy, and you need sponsors to have such cars running. In these days you need sponsors, who are acting worldwide and need worldwide attention.
You cannot run these cars with backup from the local supermarket as sponsor.

I remember my first visit to italien touringcars in 1991, the paddock was crammed with cars and teams...it feeled like around 200 touring cars were attending. They had so much classes and a lot of racing. It was like paradise, to see sooooo many BMW M3 E30, Alfa 155/75, Escort Cosworths, Citroen AX, etc. This were the best days of touring cars.

[gomick]

So has the Super Touring Series been officially canned?

[Speed-King]

The Solaris Camaro gets a 3.6 V6 engine and will race in the Italian CITE series.

[FIRE]

Why this engine swap?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Why this engine swap?

Displacement or performance limit in that series, if I understand it correctly.

[Speed-King]

CAAL Racing off to CITE as well:

http://www.acisportitalia.it/CITE/no...ndurance./2015

Not too many details yet, but they'll be racing cars from two different manufacturers. I'd think one will be a reworked EuroV8 Mercedes... the other one maybe a TCR-car?

[FIRE]

3 Mercedes are sold to owners in Netherlands.

[Wheels of Fire]

Hi guys,
as you should know, Superstars, EuroV8 or the SuperTouring are dead.
Some ex-Superstars cars are going to attend the CITE (Camaro will be powered by a V6 instead of the V8 due to technical rules). Some Mercedes are in Netherlands for a local championship.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by FIRE

3 Mercedes are sold to owners in Netherlands.

I know Vuik bought one, where did the other two go to?

[FIRE]

According tot Start magazine:

Bob Herber bought 3 cars. He plans to take part in 2015 Supercar Challenge.

Vuik Racing bought 2 cars from Herber. Vuik Jr will also take part in Supercar Challenge. The 2nd car he sold to his customer Erik Mol, I think also for Supercar Challenge.