2018 Virigin Australia Supercars (V8 Supercars)

I missed this when it was announced a week or two ago, but Craig Lowndes has announced his retirement from full time racing at the end of this year. 

 

Sad day as a fan, but he has had a great career and I think he is doing the right thing as time waits for no man, and that has become increasingly clear over the last few years. 

 

The one positive is he will join the tv commentary team - his personality will be great for that.

God I hope he isn't put into the actual commentary booth. He sat in last year during a practice session after crashing his car and it was painfully awful. Hopefully they put him with Ingall as a pre/post session expert. 

Yeah. Nearly everyone loves Lowndes. 

It'll be funny when he co-drives because, especially if it's with Whincup.

Whincup initially partnered Lowdnes as a co-driver back in the mid to late 2000s (they won Bathurst together 3 times I think) and now they might be reunited!   

I hope he doesn't do the commentary as well. Put him with Ingall so Skaife can focus more on commentary (and trying not to laugh like a broken chicken  )

Would love to see Lowdnes win at least one more race this season to round off his full time career.

C'mon guys, play nice. 

The Aussie Thupercars have more pressing problems to address then Craig's retirement.

They're slowly disappearing backwards down the gurgler and are frantically casting around for new ideas to try and stay at least, almost relevant.

Relevancy is not their strong point....

I need to remind myself to be more present and pay more attention to this series. I've been neglecting it since the Phillip Island round, but this weekend there's a change to amend with the Queensland Raceway.

C'mon guys, play nice. 

 

The Aussie Thupercars have more pressing problems to address then Craig's retirement.

They're slowly disappearing backwards down the gurgler and are frantically casting around for new ideas to try and stay at least, almost relevant.

Relevancy is not their strong point....

That's why I love it!   

What it's future holds I have no idea, but i'm just enjoying it while it's here. Best philosophy in my book.

What it's future holds I have no idea, but i'm just enjoying it while it's here. Best philosophy in my book.

Exactly. The racing is top notch and I'm just loving it while it's still good and while that historic V8 engine roars. 

Do you think a reasonably powerful single-seater series running as a support act would be successful?

Forgive my ignorance

I've always wondered why Australia hasn't had a top OW series of its own
I'm not dreaming about an Indycar level of popularity...but maybe a sort of Superformula type series?

The first night race in Australia for 21 years is taking place this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park this Saturday.

Knockout qualifying will take place beforehand with practice sessions throughout Saturday and some night practice on Friday night.

300KM - single drivers

3 compulsory pistops

Double points

Hugely important for the championship.

Cannot wait! 

Is it possible for a T8 car to pass someone else without rattling them or bumping and running? Are the commentators going to ever call it out, or are they too matey with the drivers in question? It's basically not worth watching anymore. 

Not sure why both drivers didn't get a penalty for this as either could have avoided it.

https://www.supercar...r-caruso-clash/

Not sure why both drivers didn't get a penalty for this as either could have avoided it.

 

 

https://www.supercar...r-caruso-clash/

Yeah a scary collision, could have been a lot worse.

At least the penalties in this series are very harsh when penalties are given so drivers are punished no matter if they like it or not. Yet it doesn't stop them from racing hard.

Is it possible for a T8 car to pass someone else without rattling them or bumping and running? Are the commentators going to ever call it out, or are they too matey with the drivers in question? It's basically not worth watching anymore. 

 https://www.supercar...default&paged=2

It was a brilliant battle though. But you're right about the bias that especially Skaife has for the Triple Eight guys.

Had it been the other way round, would they have called it differently? Probably.

I loved the hard racing though, such a good battle. 

Is it possible for a T8 car to pass someone else without rattling them or bumping and running? Are the commentators going to ever call it out, or are they too matey with the drivers in question? It's basically not worth watching anymore. 

touring car racing is always going to be a little bit of bumping and door handle rubbing but I kind of agree with you.

My intense dislike of Van Gisbergen comes from his usual shtick of bumping someone in front mid-corner in the side just to unsettle that car and get a good drive out of the corner. He once tried that in Blancpain and got immediately penalized.

Yeah, i'm not big on SVG as I find him a bit too much, too often. 

Only just got to catch up on the night race. Gutted for Scott, who got really unlucky with the safety car, but I was surprised the team had brought him in so early to cover of Lowndes at the final stops. They should have stayed on the same strategy as SVG & Whincup.

Also, Penske needs to get a better No.2 who can take points from 888 much more often.

Edited by DS27, 12 August 2018 - 20:45.

Yeah, i'm not big on SVG as I find him a bit too much, too often. 

 

Only just got to catch up on the night race. Gutted for Scott, who got really unlucky with the safety car, but I was surprised the team had brought him in so early to cover of Lowndes at the final stops. They should have stayed on the same strategy as SVG & Whincup.

 

Also, Penske needs to get a better No.2 who can take points from 888 much more often.

This. But they've just signed up Coulthard for another season. Don't know why, he clearly doesn't have the speed of Scotty Mac and in such a close championship, the driver makes a big difference.

As for SVG though, I gotta say that I do like him for some reason, not sure why. I like that he does go international to do GT racing and he's flamboyant.

I get that he's always on the limit, sometimes over it but I'd rather see that then someone who's conservative.

It's the Enduro time! 

First up the Sandown 500 this weekend, before Bathurst in a few weeks.

Qualifying and qualifying races for Saturday's action (today or tomorrow depending where you are) with the 500KM race on Sunday.

300pts up for grabs, another important race for the championship. 

The level of activity in this thread represents about the right response given how sodding boring Sandown was. 

There is a lot of intense speculation about how T8 managed to come off corners so quick and make the Falcons look like they were standing still. I've seen someone suggest TC (I don't for a second believe this) but I would not be surprised if they held some aero-development back until the Enduros were imminent and the officials couldn't test for parity. 

Supercars keeps praising RBR like F1 loves Lewis, but the eyebrow-raising performance and praise borderlining on fellatio does make you question whether having one team dominate in such a suspicious fashion is in the best interest of the sport. 

I know I'm sure as hell rethinking investing six hours of my life into watching Bathurst. 

BATHURST WEEK!

Time alert: Australia puts its clocks forward 1h this weekend. Race start is 11:10 GMT+11. So that's 1:10 am UK time, 3:10 am in my corner of the world.

...and so on.

That Murphy lap is still incredible, even if 3 seconds of Scotty's time. 

As always, I will give up Sunday to watch this, but it does feel a little scary that it might be as boring as Sandown was. 

Yep, Sandown was one of the most boring Supercars races for a very long time but Bathurst always seems to deliver and something always happens.

Can't wait for the race!

Whincup/Dumbrell will be massive favourites but they've always seemed to mess it up somehow. SVG/Bamber will be in there as well whilst the Fords have lost form. 

Here's hoping for a made race and a Nissan win!!! 

So... I'll be in North Carolina (EDT)and wanna see Bathhurst.
Is Sunday's race before,after or during Suzuka?
Jp

Before + during. Bathurst start time is exactly 5 hours before Suzuka, so depending on weather, SC interventions, red flags etc. it might finish either during the GP or right after (a fast 1000 around the Mountain is about 6h10m).

TV for Bathurst, laptop for F1 race, then swapping over as the race kicks off is my plan. 

Last year's intro from Channel 10 is the best Bathurst intro IMO... gives me goose bumps 

The intros get better and better every year it seems but it will be tough to beat this one from Mark Larkham

Just one issue for UK viewers for this years Bathurst 1000, no more Motorsport UK

Just one issue for UK viewers for this years Bathurst 1000, no more Motorsport UK

There's Superview (the official paid stream on the series' website, available everywhere except Aus/NZ)... not sure if they've got a discount for Bathurst week though. I remember they did last year for a brief while?

So... I'll be in North Carolina (EDT)and wanna see Bathhurst.
Is Sunday's race before,after or during Suzuka?
Jp

Before + during. Bathurst start time is exactly 5 hours before Suzuka, so depending on weather, SC interventions, red flags etc. it might finish either during the GP or right after (a fast 1000 around the Mountain is about 6h10m).

Thanks Victor! But maybe I'm confused. According to the 1000 website, the race starts at 11:10 am local, which would be 8:10pm Saturday night here in Texas. Suzuka follows at 12:10am here, which is only 4 hours later. Am I looking at it wrong?  (9:10pm & 1:10am for you in NC, JP)

Edited by AustinF1, 02 October 2018 - 17:09.

Last year's intro from Channel 10 is the best Bathurst intro IMO... gives me goose bumps

https://www.youtube....h?v=YGykmw1M_Y4

The intros get better and better every year it seems but it will be tough to beat this one from Mark Larkham

Thanks Victor! But maybe I'm confused. According to the 1000 website, the race starts at 11:10 am local, which would be 8:10pm Saturday night here in Texas. Suzuka follows at 12:10am here, which is only 4 hours later. Am I looking at it wrong?  (9:10pm & 1:10am for you in NC, JP)

NSW and Victoria do daylight savings on the first weekend of October and move from GMT+10 to GMT+11 the night before the race. Yes, inconvenient, I know.   So the race start is at 0:10 GMT, not 1:10 (and subtract your timezone out of that).

Just one issue for UK viewers for this years Bathurst 1000, no more Motorsport UK

That's one big issue. Will be the first time in many years that I haven't done an all nighter and watched live unless I can sort something out.

NSW and Victoria do daylight savings on the first weekend of October and move from GMT+10 to GMT+11 the night before the race. Yes, inconvenient, I know.   So the race start is at 0:10 GMT, not 1:10 (and subtract your timezone out of that).

So should I look for the 1000 at 7:10pm in Texas (and 8:10pm for JP in NC)?

Edited by AustinF1, 02 October 2018 - 19:03.

Anyone know the best way to view the race here in the States?

So should I look for the 1000 at 7:10pm in Texas (and 8:10pm for JP in NC)?

NC is GMT-4, Texas GMT-5, so yeah, I believe so.

It's 3:10 am for me for the start on Sunday. *shudder*

Anyone know the best way to view the race here in the States?

Ditto UK please if anyone hears anything.

He sure likes yelling

It's Bathurst so we can let him off.

Man they REALLY increased the cost of Superview, at $20 or so i'll let it slide but jesus it's $60! Great for the season but they really should drop it for one race. 

Is channel 10 streaming it? 

Last year's intro from Channel 10 is the best Bathurst intro IMO... gives me goose bumps 

 

 

The intros get better and better every year it seems but it will be tough to beat this one from Mark Larkham

 

Terrible. Cringeworthy, could have been so good. 

https://forums.autos...the-great-race/

Man they REALLY increased the cost of Superview, at $20 or so i'll let it slide but jesus it's $60! Great for the season but they really should drop it for one race. 

 

Is channel 10 streaming it? 

Maybe a dumb question, but will that work for me in the UK, as i'm desperate to watch this race.

Also, I live out in the country and our internet speed is pretty slow, and I'm wondering that even if I pay for it, I may not be able to watch because of that.

100% it will work, what is that 5 pounds for you? "out in the country" .. jesus man it's the UK, how far out can you be, it's a postage stamp. 

Edited by Alfisti, 03 October 2018 - 19:23.

Maybe a dumb question, but will that work for me in the UK, as i'm desperate to watch this race.

 

Also, I live out in the country and our internet speed is pretty slow, and I'm wondering that even if I pay for it, I may not be able to watch because of that.

Some years ago when V8SC had a discounted stream for Bathurst only, IIRC it occasionally froze for buffering. Maybe it's better this year, though personally, I'm not going to pay almost €40 for a streaming service to basically watch one race and miss the rest.

Hopefully NSC has coverage of this race.

100% it will work, what is that 5 pounds for you? "out in the country" .. jesus man it's the UK, how far out can you be, it's a postage stamp. 

Having driven from the South Coast to North Scotland a couple of times over the last week, it feels like it's one of those big stamps at least. 

Although i'm less than an hour from London on a high speed train, the internet connection we have in some rural areas is abysmal. i'm sure a 56K dial up connection used to be quicker some times.

I can't claim to be poorly off, but still, £35 to watch isn't the best value.

Edited by DS27, 05 October 2018 - 16:20.

An incredible weekend of racing in Auckland.

Just 14 points between Scotty Mac and SVG heading into the final round in Newcastle. I can't wait! 

And YouTube or video of the last race?
Jp

Not the full race on YouTube. Just the usual short highlights videos and some stuff on the Supercars website.

Like this - https://www.supercar...he/?cat=default

It's a great series. I can never quite understand why it doesn't get a bit more attention in the UK. I love the far-flung, underrated championships like this, Super Formula/Super GT, Stock Car Brasil. I'm going to miss motorsport.tv to keep up with it though.

My favorite series in the world since I lived in Oz back in the early naughties. All series have some processions but you get a high number of proper races over the season. Race 1 in NZ was a belter.

I'm in UK, I subscribe to the Supercars Superview player (ASD65 / £33 season pass) and then mirror it from the app on my phone to my TV via apple TV. Can watch all sessions live or on delay. Job done.