Albert Park

[marcus]

so with Albert Park coming upon us I got to wondering should it be part of the championship or not ???

Surfers was added last year and it seemed to be a great success, so why not add the grand prix supports as well , I dont see any point in exibition races and an extra round on such a circuit would be good.

I guess there is problems with track time but im sure bernie and TC could work it out LOL

whats your opinion.

[woodbine]

I watched the GP support race in 2001 and it was a great disappointment. The teams were too scred of damaging their cars when their was nothing at stake to put on a good show

[Dazz]

I said leave it alone, but it is not a definite.

IF, these things were to happen then it would possibly work out well, but I can't see it happening.

Equal billing with the F1 cars, meaning a couple of full length races, not some 8-10 lap screamers. Possibly a shorter Saturday race with a long Sunday race.

If Ford and Holden could manage to agree on and changes early and get their cars ready for March so it was a true beginning of the new season, rather than an extension of last season woth old cars etc.

In some ways though I think it is better as a non championship round as it actually gives the team some on track racing time to sort a few things out so that they can hit Adelaide and the start of the championship running and make a real show of it.

[Mark Webber]

It should be part of the series . rolling out a car is a costly thing so it should be worth points every time
There never going to be equal billing with F1 and for good reason but there racing there never the less so why not make it for the series

[pete55]

If it is like this year and teams are running old cars, what would it make V8 Supercars look like to and international spectator. I reckon that all teams should have current model cars on the grid for the opening race of the championship, after all this is supposed to be the showcase of Australian Motorsport.
Maybe AVESCO and CAMS could work through the Xmas break to make sure all rules regulations etc are in place so teams can have cars ready, and then have a rest when it is all up and running.

[DNQ]

I was going to post this same question - then I saw this thread. I am divided on the issue - if there is a race, why not give it championship status, but on the other hand its the GP weekend isn't it - they are the drawcard, not V8's.

[racer69]

I'm split between leave it alone and couldn't give a toss.

Touring Cars will never have equal status with F1, nor should it, so TC wouldn't be interested.

Also, just because Channel 10 will probably be showing F1 along with V8s, doesn't mean they have direct control of the footage. FOCA owns all footage recorded, i remember a few years ago Sports Sunday (Ch9) wanted to do a story on Jason Bright, and used footage from the GP. They had to sign a contract with Bernie and dispose with a large amount of money to him to get the 30 or whatever seconds of footage.

The British Touring Car support race at the British GP used to be a BTCC round, but in 1996, even though BBC showed both F1 and the BTCC, they weren't allowed to show the support race. It is missing off the season review as well.

I'd say leave it alone but put up some decent prizemoney so the drivers will have a go.

[Mattracer]

They should race for points but unless F1 improves its act then they'll need V8s just to get a crowd along.

[racer69]

But then the racing lately has been no more exciting in the V8s than it has been in Formula 1. I don't think many people would pay all that money to get into the Grand prix just to see a supporting touring car race.

[twig]

I dont think it really needs to be a championship round, although it would be nice, and would have more attention payed to it.

Even though it is expensive to roll a car out to the round, with limit of testing days down to 12, many teams use it as a bit of a test, for new drivers, and cars as well.

Another problem is the coverage rights, if the F1 coverage supplier is not channel 10, then well, mayhem.

[William Dale Jr]

Originally posted by pete55
If it is like this year and teams are running old cars, what would it make V8 Supercars look like to and international spectator.

It would make the V8 teams look just as highly professional as F1 is. After all, how many F1 teams are turning up at Albert Park with last year's cars...

[pete55]

Bit different i think, F1 cars are hardly recognisable from one year to the next.
How's Bowen going. Used to work there a fair few years ago

[William Dale Jr]

Originally posted by pete55
How's Bowen going. Used to work there a fair few years ago

Depending on how long ago, you mightn't recognise the place now. We're going through a period of development at the moment, and most of the main streets have been/are being repaved. I must say, the old place has never looked better.

On the down side, we're going through a bit of a dry spell at the moment (we're one of those drought-declared places) and the level of the lagoon is so low you can walk across to the island in the middle of it.

Originally posted by pete55
Bit different i think, F1 cars are hardly recognisable from one year to the next.

How so? Last year's car is still last year's car, no matter how much you try to update it. Outwardly, they usually look virtually the same (sometimes I think that Giorgio Piola is the only person who could spot the differences) apart from the livery. How does that make them any different from the V8 teams running last year's car with this year's livery?

[pete55]

Maybe it's my lack of interest in F1. I don't really watch it anymore. When it becomes interesting again i might. Same with V8 supercars. I was last working in Bowen in 84 i think.

[mixxer]

I polled Nah leave it alone but I reckon it should be an all openwheeler weekend
: historics,vees,3's,F Holden and as a real outsider a F5000 race (how many cars currently compete in F5000 here in OZ ?) with competitors from NZ, Europe and the USA theres gotta be enough of them to fill a grid, I know if they ever did it Id be there

[pete55]

It's only a V8 test session anyway so i wouldn t have it as a championship round and i doubt AVESCO or the Teams would want it that way either.
F3 would be a much better proposition to have it as a championship as i feel it would really create some interest in the class.
By all means leave the V8s on the program but not as a championship round.

[moffman]

I voted no but they need to stay there so Albert Park gets a crowd.Not really a fan of open wheel racing so find F1 boring

[pete55]

Neither am i Moffman but i've fallen for those fabulous little F3 cars. If all goes to plan i hear that we will have a Tasman Series again for those cars.
You're right though, F1 does need help to get the crowds in.

[Ozenigma]

I think Sandown and PI are better tracks for racing but then have we seen them being serious at the GP. I doubt it, The racing at Indy changed for the V8's once it mattered so who knows. I say no but then it might be fun and at least the do pass sometimes unlike formula boring

[The Tool Man]

I suppose if the teams are there anyway why not have it as part of the Championship.

[gsr]

Keep it non championship , if they ever need an extra round head back to Symmons Plains.

[pete55]

They'll probably try a round in Japan first gsr. That seems to be the way the championship is heading. Overseas!

[the man]

V8's aren't there to be a lead class at the GP so it should be left alone, But at Surfers the V8's were equal with cart which was a big mistake

[moffman]

Originally posted by the man
V8's aren't there to be a lead class at the GP so it should be left alone, But at Surfers the V8's were equal with cart which was a big mistake

Why?

[moffman]

Originally posted by pete55
Neither am i Moffman but i've fallen for those fabulous little F3 cars. If all goes to plan i hear that we will have a Tasman Series again for those cars.
You're right though, F1 does need help to get the crowds in.

If the Tasman Series gets going again can we please have the F5000 cars back