V8 Supercars

The International V8 Supercars Championship is the most popular Australian touring car racing series. The races take place predominantly in Australia and are supplemented by individual events abroad (current New Zealand and USA, formerly also in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and China). A racing season is - similar to many European calendar series - from February or March to November or December, so closes the winter in the southern hemisphere with a. The race calendar of the V8 Supercars includes a number of different hosting formats, from short sprints to long distance races with a driver change.

The vehicles are four-door sedans, but they are modeled only in appearance their serial counterparts (Silhouette vehicle). As a basis one uniform chassis is used, which is supplemented with many unit components and only a few series components. The different silhouettes are adapted and codified under the supervision of the organizer as similar as possible aerodynamic properties. All vehicles must use a 5L V8 engine which is developed by the respective manufacturers.

• 2.1 Qualification Training
• 2.2 Super Street
• 2.3 Supersprint
• 2.4 Long -distance races ( Pirtek Enduro Cup )

Vehicle

COTF - Car of the Future ( since 2013)

To open the series to other manufacturers and to make the eternal duel between Holden and Ford exciting beginning of the 2010s it was decided to develop a new vehicle concept for the series. The Car of the Future ( COTF ) has been used since the 2013 season now in four different versions. Besides the established vehicles from Ford, the Falcon FG and the Holden Commodore VF can be found since this season and Nissan with the Altima and a version of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG on the grid.

Technically, the new vehicles in the areas of chassis, engine and safety have been greatly modified from the 2012er V8 Supercar. All vehicles have the same dimensions, that is, no series car bodies were simulated. Thus, the E-Class is 90 mm ​​longer than the standard model. The engine was 100 mm deep and 100 mm also mounted further back. Thus, the safety is improved in a frontal impact. To be able to use larger and better brakes Reifen-/Felgengröße was raised to 18 ". Also has the tank of the vehicles, located in the rear, is further displaced in the vehicle interior.

Specifications

Austragungsmodi

A racing season of V8 Supercars race includes various distances and formats. Often there are several races per weekend ( on the same route ). In general, the distribution of points is adjusted so that the total number remains the same at distributed points per race weekend.

For the 2014 season, the racing formats " Super Street " and "Super Sprint " were introduced, covering the majority of the racing calendar. Then there are the three long-distance events, apply to the rules of each slightly different.

All races will be started standing.

Qualifying

Usually, a separate qualifying session is conducted for each race, usually in the morning of the race day. Qualifikationsssitzungen for races on the same day can also directly take place sequentially, interspersed with a few minutes break.

Especially for the Sandown 500 applies an alternative format, in which the starting grid with two qualifying races (per 1 race for guest drivers and regular drivers ) is determined.

Super Street

Saturdays are driven with two races per 125km distance, where the schedule provides that the finish of the second race at dusk takes place ( Twilight Race ). Sunday is a single race with 250km distance.

The starting lineups for the 125km race are determined in two separate 15-minute qualifying sessions on Friday. The qualification for the 250km race will be held on Sunday morning and includes a 20-minute qualifying session, followed by a time trial of the fastest 10 drivers (Top 10 Shootout ).

In the 125km race with the winner getting 75 points each. In the 250km race the winner gets 150 points.

Super Sprint

Saturdays are driven with two races per 100km distance. Sunday is a single race with 200km distance.

The starting lineups for the 100km race are determined in two separate 15-minute qualifying sessions on Friday. Qualifying for the 200-km race will be held on Sunday morning as a 20-minute qualifying session.

In the 100km race with the winner getting 75 points each. In the 200km race the winner gets 150 points.

Long-distance races ( Pirtek Enduro Cup )

For the events Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600 at any regular driver shares his vehicle with an assistant ( Co - Driver ) to the high distances of 500 to be able to cope with 1000 and 2x300km. The assistant driver usually come from the Australian junior and secondary lines, but sometimes international riders will be invited or already retired V8 Supercar driver for these three races brought out of retirement.

Since 2013 is awarded a separate award for the most successful driver in the three long-distance races under the name Pirtek Enduro Cup. This number includes only the points results from these three races.

Sandown 500

Saturday is determined by a special process, the start -up:

• A 20-minute qualifying session to determine the starting grid for the qualifying race No. 1
• The qualifying race # 1 over 60km is disputed by the assistant drivers. The result forms the starting grid for race No. 2
• The regular driver will contest the qualifying race 2 on 60km. The result gives the starting grid for the Sandown 500 on Sunday.

After a brief warm - up on Sunday morning the race over 300km follows. The winner receives 300 championship points for the qualifying race no points are awarded.

Bathurst 1000

The highlight of the season is the 1000 km race at the Mount Panorama Circuit ( Bathurst ).

On Fridays there will be a 40 -minute qualifying session, followed by a time trial of the best 10 riders on Saturday. On Sunday, the approximately 6-hour Bathurst 1000 takes place. The winner receives 300 championship points.

Gold Coast 600

The Gold Coast 600 consist of a 300km race on Saturday and Sunday. The qualification takes place each on race day and includes one each 30-minute qualifying session and only on Saturday - a Top 10 Shootout. Pro Race of Champions gets 150 championship points.

Until the 2012 season, each team driver had to share the vehicle with an international guest drivers in the Gold Coast 600. Among others was also attended by many former Formula 1 drivers like Nick Heidfeld, Sebastien Bourdais and Mika Salo part of the Gold Coast 600. Due to the lack of experience of the guest drivers with the diffizilen handling of the vehicle, the tight street circuit in Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast and the resulting high cost of accidents this rule, however, was abolished for the season 2013.