Got a question? Ask the XXXXpert: Archive

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January 2011

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Question: Any clues as to when we will know what engine will be used in the COTF cars? Brenda White Answer: Brenda, it was late March 2010 when V8 Supercars Australia announced its Car Of The Future blueprint. At that time Mark Skaife explained that V8SA was currently finalising details of an “engine equalisation program” for the “normally aspirated V8s”. No further details of that engine...

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Question: Is there any news on who will be the new steerer of the #18 Jim Beam Falcon for DJR in 2011? Rob, Woongarrah NSW Answer: At the time of writing, Rob, nothing has been announced. All signs and whispers point to James Moffat being James Courtney’s replacement. If that happens, two legendary names of the sport will join forces. Whoever slides into #18’s seat will have to bring sponsorship,...

December 2010

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Question: Any news on what Murph might be up to in 2011? Let’s hope Sydney wasn’t his last drive. Craig Answer: Craig, expect Greg Murphy to drive for the Holden Racing Team at Phillip Island and Bathurst next year. Joining HRT makes sense: he gets the chance to post another Bathurst win, with either Garth Tander or new recruit James Courtney; and driving for the factory squad sits nicely with...

November 2010

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Question: With all the driver uncertainty and drivers changing teams, do you think that takes the focus away from the racing action? Should V8 Supercars implement a time period where no contracts for the next season can be signed. Similar to what other sporting bodies do. Answer: I actually think the opposite. The silly season chatter adds another element to the on-track proceedings. Frankly, V8...

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Question: Who do you think can realistically still win the 2010 championship? Scotty Toowong, QLD Answer: Realistically, Scotty, it’s a three-way fight: James Courtney, Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom. The first two are obviously even-money favourites for the title. The third, ‘Frosty’, only needs Courtney and Whincup to suffer one DNF each over the last four races (two at...

October 2010

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Question: I’m a big Ford fan and went to Bathurst. Can you tell me why all the Holden team garages were at one end and the Fords at the other end. Many thanks. Razz Harvey Answer: Hey Razz, the garage allocation is determined by the finishing order of the previous year’s Teams’ Championship. So HRT won the right to the first two garages in pit road, from the mob that finished second, TeamVodafone...

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Question: When did James Courtney drive for HRT? I must have missed that! Answer: You are forgiven, as Courtney’s Bathurst debut lasted just seven laps. He crashed HRT’s #22 Commodore on top of the Mountain just 20 minutes into the 2005 Great Race. Maybe it’s lucky for him then HRT boss Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly won the thing that day and his indiscretion wasn’t dwelt on. In truth, Courtney...

September 2010

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Question: With the old boys winning the first enduro of the season, do you think being king of the mountain this year will come down to experience this year? Eddie H Answer: I can’t see TeamVodafone being beaten on the mountain, Eddie, barring an act of God. Even then, given Roland Dane’s connections, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got a direct line to the big man upstairs. And I don’t mean Tony...

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Question: How long does it take to build a V8 Supercar? Anthony Fresen (Facebook fan) Answer: The quick answer, Anthony, is several months. Or between 1500 and 2000 man hours. The current V8 Supercars chassis are ridiculously labour-intensive to construct. Much of this is absorbed in the welding of the body-shell and rollcage. An aim of the Car of the Future project is to reduce the build time by...

August 2010

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Question: If two drivers are tied on points at the end of the championship, do you know what happens? Do they have a shootout or anything to determine the champion? Sarah Answer: Sarah, it would be decided on a count back, with the driver scoring the most race wins over the year crowned champ. Rule 15.4 2.5 reads, in part: “If this fails to break the tie, then the driver with the greater...

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Question: Hey Luke, when it comes to the roll cages within the cars, what is the ‘Larry-bar’ and why do they call it that? TJ, Taranaki, NZ Answer: TJ, the Larry bar is named after its inventor, Larry Perkins, the former driver and team boss who was also a leading designer and builder of V8 Supercar chassis. It’s the bar that runs diagonally across a V8 Supercar, above the dashboard. It runs from...

July 2010

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Question: With the championship fight so close this year and heading into the enduro races, who do you think will step up and be noticed during these tough few rounds upcoming? Trevor, Melbourne Answer: The new endurance race rules – where full-timers can’t be paired together in the one car – has really given drivers outside the series a big opportunity to shine. Imagine the career-boost for Steve...

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Question: It’s been a great resurgence from the Ford teams of late. Where was this form at the start of the year? Connie, Bris Vegas, Queensland. Answer: Good question. Connie, it’s got more to do with Jamie Whincup’s incredible performances in the Middle East than anything else. Compare his results in the first few races with those of Craig Lowndes. FPR’s Mark Winterbottom...

June 2010

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Question: Luke, in your Clipsal video you thought that Jamie would be the one to beat and GT had no chance after his bad start. What are your thoughts on the championship now that we are roughly halfway through? Rich, Sydney Answer: Rich, I’d say Garth Tander’s title hopes are fainter than back in March. He was 453 points off the series lead when I recorded that video, and that margin has barely...

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Question: How many cars do the teams go through in a season? And why do they change cars and not just replace the engines? Answer: Not as many as you might think. Write-offs are rare. Your average two-car team will introduce a new car for each of its driver most years, although these can be hand-me-downs from sister operations. Well-funded squads might turn them over more regularly. I note...

May 2010

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Question: Luke, with such a long downtime between races because Perth was dropped, what will the teams and the drivers get up to besides the usual practices and training? Do you think the big break will enable some of the struggling teams to come out firing at Darwin? Answers: It’s certainly a barren V8 period, with just two events (Darwin and Townsville) in a four-month period – mid May to mid...

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Question: Luke, do you think the facilities are up to standard for V8 Supercars to continue at Winton? I mean they tried to pull the plug at Ipswich and they have pulled it from Perth, how does Winton get away with it? Simmo, Queensland Answer: Simmo, while Winton’s spectator facilities are as basic as Ipswich’s and Perth’s, the Victorian circuit’s pit facilities are far superior to those at...

April 2010

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Question: Hey Luke, I read recently that several V8 Supercar teams (11 cars) use Ipswich as their practice circuit. With so many using the circuit, wouldn’t teams have knowledge of what each other is doing? I think V8 Supercars Australia should allocate each team a circuit as their home base. That way we can follow a team who represents our area as well as our favourite car or team. Joanne,...

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Question: With Greg Murphy having a Triple Eight-built Commodore in 2010, do you think he can resurrect himself and become a force again? Answer: I definitely think Murph can win races again, especially the longer, more strategic races. Just look at how Dick Johnson Racing has used Triple Eight-built chassis to good effect over the last 18 months with poles and wins. I would expect Murphy to...

March 2010

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Question: Why can’t the V8 Supercar races at the AGP be for championship points? Nigel, Melbourne Answer: Channel Seven bought the rights to televise the V8 Supercar Championship. Network Ten has the F1 rights, thus TEN is the only TV network which can broadcast from Albert Park. Therefore, having the AGP races as points-paying affairs is impossible. Still, I think the AGP V8 races could feature a...

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Question: What do you think about the Whincup black flag incident in Adelaide? Darren Jacobs, Facebook Fan Answer: Darren, I have no problem with that entire episode at all. Unlucky? Yes. Hard done? No. Officials were within their rights to call him into pit lane. And once summoned to the pits, there’s no mechanism under the rules to rescind the request. Maybe there should be, but I’m unsure of...

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Question: How does V8 Supercars benefit when they take the series over to Middle East. The stands were empty and TV ratings were low? Simon, Gold Coast Answer: The Yas Marina and Bahrain circuit operators both pay V8 Supercars Australia a sizeable fee to bring the series to their circuits. This money filters through to the individual teams, who, as a group, own 75 per cent of V8SA. This money –...

February 2010

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Question: Signing Pink for three years is a massive coup for the V8s, but do you think three years is too long? And why not sign an Australian artist? Damien, Gold Coast Answer: Initially I thought the same thing, Damien. A great score, provided Pink is still popular in two years time. But then I recalled Rugby League’s ultra-successful Tina Turner campaign. I remember the league ran with the song...

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Question: With Skaife and Lowndsey joining together for Bathurst, do you think it’s fair for the rest of the drivers given there are two legends in one car? Other drivers will have amateurs with them. Answer: It’s entirely fair. The best co-drivers get paid the best money by the best teams. It’s the way of the world. Besides, the attention Lowndes/Skaife receive might just prove to be a...

January 2010

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Question: How come they got rid of the Queensland Raceway round? What can the fans do to get it back? Darren Answer: All is not lost, Darren, as the two parties are still at the negotiating table. Business deals between V8 Supercars Australia and operators of permanent circuits work in one of two ways. Simply put, either the track pays V8SA a sanction fee to bring the circus to town (as is the...

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Question: I read recently there are restrictions on teams displaying alcohol branding on their cars at the two season-opening Middle Eastern rounds. What are those restrictions and will that impact teams with alcohol sponsors financially? Are they being compensated from the governing body? Matt, Stony Creek Answer: Matt, you have to remember that Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are both Muslim countries...

December 2009

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Question: Is driver-splitting for the enduros really a good idea? The smaller teams with smaller budgets will find it difficult to find good drivers, whereas the top teams like HRT will be at an advantage because of their bigger budgets. And wouldn’t most people prefer to see good mates win the Bathurst 1000? Like Tander and Davision, Whincup and Lowndes, Caruso and Holdsworth, rather than...

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Question: With 10 weeks off until the 2010 season begins, what preparations will the teams and drivers be making to improve on their 2009 efforts? Jimmy, Sydney Answer: Jimmy, it varies from team-to-team. The majority of the Ford teams will enjoy this off-season more so than the last, when they had to build new FG models. So it will be a case of refining their packages and giving their personnel...

November 2009

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Question: Luke, do you think in the future there will be an oval built in Australia that the V8 Supercars could race on? Paul Thompson, Seven Hills Answer: No chance for the foreseeable future, Paul. I’m sure the planning for the next generation of V8 Supercars – the Car of Tomorrow – doesn’t include engineering the cars for racing on ovals, like Melbourne’s white elephant Calder Park...

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Question: Does Fabian Coulthard’s signing to Walkinshaw Racing to drive the Bundaberg Red Commodore mean David Reynolds is out of a drive? Dave, Heathcote, NSW Answer: Not necessarily, Dave. There is still no official word from Walkinshaw Racing on Reynolds’ future. It looks to hinge on whether Paul Dumbrell leaves the WR fold for next year. Frankly, if 2009’s standout rookie does lose his drive...

October 2009

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Question: Luke, what are your thoughts on the restart of the race from the SuperGP? How is it fair for those who gained positions from bad racing for some drivers to be put back to the original position? Is this really fair for everyone, I have never seen this in racing before. Matt Answer: It wasn’t fair, Matt. Especially for Russell Ingall who lost out when tagged by Lowndes and then again...

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Question: Will the Bathurst 1000 ever change back to the original October long weekend? All fans hope so. Answer: Not while the NRL Grand Final is scheduled for the NSW Labour Day long weekend. V8 Supercars Australia quite rightly realises it would be suicide to hold its banner event the same day as that’s state’s most popular football code’s big day. On a national basis, the 2009 NRL Grand...

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Question: I was reading an article on the V8 Supercars website which refers to Phillip Island being a replacement for Bahrain. What’s happening to Bahrain this year? Answer: Because the 2010 schedule begins with a Middle East double-header (Abu Dhabi and Bahrain in February), this November’s Bahraini round has indeed been replaced by a second Phillip Island round. It wouldn’t have made a lot...

September 2009

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Question: Hi Luke, some questions about Bathurst. Firstly, can any other team take it up to V8 powerhouses Triple Eight and Toll Holden Racing Team at Bathurst? Do you rate the combination of Mark Skaife and Greg Murphy? And finally, would you agree Coulthard/Patrizi have an outside chance for a podium? Derek, Castlemaine, Victoria Answer: Derek, Phillip Island’s L&H 500 reinforced that...

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Question: Hi XXXXpert, do the V8 Supercar teams and or drivers get any prize money for firstly a race win and secondly a championship win? In NASCAR the prize-money is openly revealed to everyone, but we don’t hear a word about it in V8 Supercars. Could you enlighten us a little? Karen, Goulburn, NSW Answer: Karen, the reason we don’t hear a word about prize-money in V8 Supercars is because...

August 2009

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Question: Is Shane van Gisbergen the real deal? Rob Thompson, Ingleburn, NSW Answer: Dunno, Rob, the jury is still out on the Giz Kid. He’s been in the game for two years now – 18 months as a frontline fighter for Stone Brothers Racing – and he’s yet to appear on the podium. While his results haven’t been what we’ve come to expect of a SBR driver, the same is true of the team itself. It’s...

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Question: Do you think Triple Eight’s move to Holden is in the best interests of the sport? Are we moving back to the old days when Holden had the best teams, drivers and engineers money could buy? It seems to me we are heading for a one-make series rather than a multi-vehicle series. Will the Ford teams struggle when the supplier and manufacturer of components to the most competitive teams has...

July 2009

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Question: How long until V8 Supercars announces the calendar of events for next year? Do you think that the Bahrain round will still go ahead this year? My son has been reading articles that suggest possibly two overseas rounds early in 2010. If that’s the case would an Aussie round be lost? Trenna, Winton, Vic Answer: Trenna, the V8 calendar is usually announced in September or October. V8...

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Question: Dear Luke, what’s up with FPR this year? I refuse to believe that Mark Winterbottom has lost all his talent in 2009. It seems that all is not right with the Ford factory team, which is letting its drivers such as Frosty down. What’s going on? Laurie, email Answer: Laurie, FPR hasn’t adapted well to the format changes, nor the move to the new FG for 2009, for whatever reason. They are...

June 2009

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Question: Dear XXXXpert, I really like the racing the softer Sprint tyres have provided. Especially the Sunday race at Darwin; it was a real cracker. I understand that the tyre is only going to be used at some rounds and not all at others. If the racing is so good, why not use the tyre at all rounds, except maybe the long distance events like Phillip Island and Bathurst? Brad Keen, Melbourne Pic:...

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Question: Hey XXXXpert, it was good to see Russell Ingall and Greg Murphy up the front of the field in Tassie – and they’re both Holden drivers! Do you think the old blokes have the pace and motivation to win races this year? Eric Jeffers, Redcliffe, Qld Answer: The Enforcer and Murph are clearly motivated and still have ‘it’; Murphy less so when his car isn’t on the money. Something he admits to....

May 2009

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ABOUT WINTON, MURPH’S WIDER TYRES & MORE MARQUES Question: G’day Luke, rumour has it the Winton round might be getting axed because of safety concerns. Have you got any news on this? Keith Windham, email Answer: Keith, circuit safety is the Confederation of Australian Motorsport’s domain primarily. If a circuit meets CAMS’ safety standards then it, by default, it meets V8 Supercars...

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ABOUT CAR-SWAPPING, GRID GIRLS & FROSTY Question: TeamVodafone seem invincible this year, can the Holdens catch up in the championship or are the Fords that good and it’s all over for Lion supporters? Laurie Wilson, Vic Answer: While TeamVodafone seems to have everyone’s measure speed-wise, don’t give up hope just yet. The endurance races, especially Bathurst, inevitably turn the points...

April 2009

2 posts

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Fire a question to motorsport journalist Luke West about any topic relating to V8 Supercars. ABOUT E85, ENGINES & WHINCUP’S FUTURE Question: Luke, why use E85 in V8 Supercars and not a pure Ethanol fuel (E100)? Why not go the whole hog? Warren, Liverpool, NSW Answer: I’ve wondered that myself, Warren. So I put the question to V8 Supercar’s category technical director Campbell Little,...

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ABOUT EASTERN CREEK & THE AGP Question: Why is there no V8 round at Eastern Creek this year? Even with the Homebush race, surely Sydney could cope with two events a year and make use of a permanent facility? Answer: I remember V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane saying in mid-2008 that the series won’t return to Eastern Creek, as the venue doesn’t attract crowds to the size that he expects...

March 2009

2 posts

Welcome from Luke.

Howdy V8 fans! And thanks for checking out the first ever XXXX GOLD V8 Supercars Experts’ Opinion. Got a burning V8 Supercars question? Then this is the place to pose it. Fire through all manner of questions, whether you’re a diehard or a V8 virgin, and I’ll do my level best to find an answer. Or give my take on a situation, at least. As the XXXX GOLD V8 Supercars Experts’ Opinion is...

About Ambrose, Bathurst & V8 racing's future.

Question: Will we ever see Marcos Ambrose come back from the US for another crack at Bathurst? Answer: Hopefully … but don’t hold your breath. While Ambrose has indicated Bathurst is unfinished business for him, his NASCAR career is going gangbusters with a full-time 2009 Sprint Cup ride. So it’s unlikely he’ll return for the 1000 any time soon, given that NASCAR races are virtually every weekend...