Australia's top-tier motorsport category, V8 Supercars, "has unveiled sweeping changes to the sport that open the series to cars with any kind of engine -- even leaving the door open to hybrids -- and a variety of body styles rather than restricting it to V8-powered sedans," according to David McCowen of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton "intends to make the sport more relevant to fans, teams, sponsors and manufacturers as locally built cars fade away with the death of Australian automotive manufacturing." Warburton:
"It was obvious that the landscape was changing." V8 management "met with dozens of car makers while planning the changes and met with mixed reactions" (SMH, 12/3). In Sydney, James Phelps reported "on a game-changing day for the sport" ahead of this weekend’s season ending Sydney 500, it was revealed that from '17:
- A V8 engine would no longer be compulsory;
- Turbo engines, four cylinder engines and six cylinder engines would be allowed to compete alongside V8 engines;
- Two-door coupe types would be admitted into the sport as long as they had a back-seat;
- All cars will use the “Car of the Future’’ chassis; and
- All current “control components’’ would be compulsory with more to be developed.
With Lexus the latest "high-profile" brand "to publicly express interest in joining Holden, Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes in the series," Warburton "spoke enthusiastically on Wednesday about the future of the sport after witnessing strong rises in television and social media numbers." Warburton: "The one thing for us was that we had to ensure the DNA of our sport -- fast, loud, and close and aggressive racing -- remained" (
DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/3).
