OFFICIAL RELEASE: Innovation follows Consolidation for V8 Supercars in 2014
V8 Supercars has announced ground-breaking changes for 2014, building on a year which has featured multiple race and rookie winners, captivating racing and new generation V8 Supercars.
Innovation is the key to further broadening the appeal of V8 Supercars and making it accessible to more people than ever.
Key initiatives for 2014 include a shift towards prime time twilight racing and new standardised race formats; and an exciting new ANZAC Day weekend in New Zealand. Sydney will host three events in 2015.
“We have the opportunity to continue with an entrepreneurial approach, with high levels of innovation and commitment to our fans,” V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said.
“There is a chance to build on the energy and passion of the business created through the course of this year; taking it to the next level in 2014 and even further in 2015.
“We have had the period of consolidation, now is the time for innovation, growth and building for the next five to ten years.”
A minimum of five Saturday twilight races are possible in 2014. V8 Supercars will announce timings of all races early in the New Year in consultation with host broadcaster Seven.
As a precursor the first 250km race at the Sydney 500 this December will run from 5.10pm to 7.30pm. The ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 next month will also be staged later on Saturday afternoon.
The prospect of racing at twilight has received unanimous support from fans with 85 per cent supporting a Saturday evening race and almost 50 per cent more people would attend or watch a twilight race.
V8 Supercars also announced a move to three categories of events – SuperSprint, SuperStreet and the PIRTEK Enduro Cup – to standardise and simplify race formats into a consistent package. The 60/60 format of this year has been scrapped.
Accordingly the Townsville 500 and ITM 500 Auckland become 500km events in line with the SuperStreet formats, while all SuperSprint events are two 100km races on Saturdays with a single 200km feature race on the Sunday.
All SuperSprint races will count towards the Championship.
The 2014 V8 Supercar calendar consists of 16 events including the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the hugely popular sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The Sydney 500 was locked in for a further three years earlier this month by the New South Wales Government, with an option for a further two years. This followed the recent the extension of the three Queensland events, also for a further three years.
Additionally, V8 Supercars will return to Sydney Motorsport Park for a Championship event in 2014 in August, meaning Sydney will host three events in 2014.
In New Zealand the ITM500 Auckland will be held on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the ANZAC weekend.V8 Supercars believes racing on ANZAC weekend in New Zealand is a huge drawcard for the event that will encourage fans to travel to Auckland on the long weekend.
The blockbuster Clipsal 500 in Adelaide kicks off the Championship year once again.
V8 Supercars will delay a return to Texas until 2015 because of a clash of dates with the recently signed X Games and the composition of the V8 Supercar and COTA calendars.
“The timing of COTA securing the X Games next year led to the mutual agreement of a gap-year before consolidating, planning and returning to Texas in 2015,” Warburton said.
“The first Texas 400 was an enormous success at all levels and a tremendous platform to build into the future; in conjunction with developing an extensive international strategy for 2015 and beyond.
“The prospects are virtually limitless; there is that much potential in the sport.”
COTA President Steve Sexton said he was looking forward to V8 Supercars return in 2015 after a highly successful North American debut in May.
“Circuit of The Americas is quickly becoming a year-round destination for a variety of large-scale sports and entertainment properties, and with our packed schedule, we were not able to find mutually workable dates to facilitate a return of V8 Supercars to Austin in 2014,” Circuit Chief Executive Officer Steve Sexton said.
“V8 Supercars continues to be one of the most exciting shows in world motorsports. We know our US and international fans really enjoyed the Austin 400 event this year, and we are very excited to have V8 Supercars return to the United States in 2015.”
V8 Supercars has had preliminary discussions with several venues in the US with a view to „twinning%u201F the Texas 400 in the future.
The 2014 V8 Supercars calendar:
Feb 15
sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day
Sydney MSP
Feb 27-Mar 2
Clipsal 500 Adelaide
Adelaide Street Circuit
SuperStreet DS
Mar 13-16
2014 Formula 1 Aust Grand Prix
Albert Park
TBC
Mar 28-30
Tasmania 400
Symmons Plains Raceway
SuperSprint
Apr 4-6
Winton 400
Winton Motor Raceway
SuperSprint DS
April 24-27
ITM 500 Auckland
Pukekohe Park Raceway
SuperSprint
May 16-18 TBC
Perth 400
Barbagallo Raceway
SuperSprint DS
June 20-22
SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin 400
Hidden Valley Raceway
SuperSprint
July 4-6
Townsville 500
Reid Park
SuperStreet DS
Aug 1-3 TBC
Coates Hire Ipswich 400
Queensland Raceway
SuperSprint DS
Aug 22-24
Sydney Motorsport Park 400
Sydney Motorsport Park
SuperSprint
Sept 12-14
Wilson Security Sandown 500
Sandown Raceway
PIRTEK Enduro Cup
Oct 9-12
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
Mount Panorama
PIRTEK Enduro Cup DS
Oct 24-26
ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600
Surfers Paradise
PIRTEK Enduro Cup
Nov 14-16
Phillip Island 400
Phillip Island Circuit
SuperSprint
Dec 5-7
Sydney 500
Sydney Olympic Park
SuperStreet DS