Nissan going to go Aussie V8 Supercar racing
Discussion
They used to race with the Skyline GTRs racing against the Sierra RS500s, Commodores and Falcons but ever since the series went the V8 Supercar route it's been Holden v Ford.
But there will now be a 3rd way.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97423
But there will now be a 3rd way.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97423
Autosport said:
Nissan will become the first manufacturer other than Ford or Holden to race in Australian touring cars in two decades when it joins V8 Supercars next year.
The deal, which is scheduled to be announced in Melbourne on Thursday morning, local time, will cover a four-car works entry run by Kelly Racing. Team owners Rick and Todd Kelly will drive two of the cars, with four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy and Karl Reindler completing the line-up.
Although the V8 Supercar era has been the sole domain of Holden and Ford up to this point, Nissan does have a pedigree in Australian motorsport. The Japanese manufacturer was one of the powerhouses of the final years of the Group A period, and Mark Skaife and Jim Richards claimed back-to-back Bathurst wins in 1991 and '92 at the wheel of a Skyline GTR.
The deal, which is scheduled to be announced in Melbourne on Thursday morning, local time, will cover a four-car works entry run by Kelly Racing. Team owners Rick and Todd Kelly will drive two of the cars, with four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy and Karl Reindler completing the line-up.
Although the V8 Supercar era has been the sole domain of Holden and Ford up to this point, Nissan does have a pedigree in Australian motorsport. The Japanese manufacturer was one of the powerhouses of the final years of the Group A period, and Mark Skaife and Jim Richards claimed back-to-back Bathurst wins in 1991 and '92 at the wheel of a Skyline GTR.
GravelBen said:
Will be good to see a bit more variety out there even if it is only cosmetic 
Pity its the Kellys running them though.
Control chassis next year then - a shame, but I suppose vital since it would be the effective end of the series if one manufacturer dropped out at the moment. Pity its the Kellys running them though.
Pints said:
So am I correct in thinking the only thing the manufacturers will be bringing to the party will be the engine? Or is there more to it than that?
They can use their own engine built to spec to maintain parity across all cars or they can have an engine supplied to them.Chassis are all the same...It is basically NASCAR but with recognisable body panels. The doors are still functional etc.
deviant said:
They can use their own engine built to spec to maintain parity across all cars or they can have an engine supplied to them.
Chassis are all the same...It is basically NASCAR but with recognisable body panels. The doors are still functional etc.
The chassis is a change for next year - I had a long argument with someone on PH about the existing rules and we did finally come to the conclusion that they currently use a very heavily modified production car chassis with many spec components, much like NGTC does in the BTCC.Chassis are all the same...It is basically NASCAR but with recognisable body panels. The doors are still functional etc.
davepoth said:
deviant said:
They can use their own engine built to spec to maintain parity across all cars or they can have an engine supplied to them.
Chassis are all the same...It is basically NASCAR but with recognisable body panels. The doors are still functional etc.
The chassis is a change for next year - I had a long argument with someone on PH about the existing rules and we did finally come to the conclusion that they currently use a very heavily modified production car chassis with many spec components, much like NGTC does in the BTCC.Chassis are all the same...It is basically NASCAR but with recognisable body panels. The doors are still functional etc.
Body going on:
I cant tell if the body is welded on or not. As I understood current construction methods the cars are already pretty well built around a roll cage with the production metal work made to fit around it.
I think you're right, as didn't they have to change the dimensions of one of the makes (cutting big chunks out of the shell) so there was parity with the bodyshapes and the aerodynamics were equal?
Found a timelapse of the COTF main structure being built: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
Lots of interesting info on the V8 site http://www.v8supercars.com.au/technical/carofthefu...
Found a timelapse of the COTF main structure being built: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
Lots of interesting info on the V8 site http://www.v8supercars.com.au/technical/carofthefu...
Edited by IainW on Thursday 9th February 16:12
Regardless of the details, I'm pleased to welcome Nissan back to their back-yard down-under.
This will probably re-invigorate a stale series with some much-welcomed new blood. Although Holden employees may disagree; as a nation, the Ozzies have a lingering fondness for Skylines which they just cannot shake off. It's almost a romantic thing…
I very much look forward to the forthcoming battle.
This will probably re-invigorate a stale series with some much-welcomed new blood. Although Holden employees may disagree; as a nation, the Ozzies have a lingering fondness for Skylines which they just cannot shake off. It's almost a romantic thing…
I very much look forward to the forthcoming battle.
cosicave said:
Regardless of the details, I'm pleased to welcome Nissan back to their back-yard down-under.
This will probably re-invigorate a stale series with some much-welcomed new blood. Although Holden employees may disagree; as a nation, the Ozzies have a lingering fondness for Skylines which they just cannot shake off. It's almost a romantic thing…
I very much look forward to the forthcoming battle.
Not sure if you were being tongue-in-cheek or not but they absolutely do. Skylines of all shapes and sizes are imported by the hundreds and are everywhere. Thus far, those guys havent taken much interest in the V8s, sticking with their drift scene and drags. I reckon a Nissan in the V8s will create/nurture another dynamic of race fan rivalry. Should be good. This will probably re-invigorate a stale series with some much-welcomed new blood. Although Holden employees may disagree; as a nation, the Ozzies have a lingering fondness for Skylines which they just cannot shake off. It's almost a romantic thing…
I very much look forward to the forthcoming battle.
Quite amusing reading some of the fans (probably the ones Jimmy Richards was on about) comments on the drivers Facebook pages. "Go back to Asiatown Nissan" and many similar ones. Funniest was on Shane van Gisbergen's page when he asked what people thought of it. Somebody said "we don't want them, bring back our homegrown Aussie championship!". On the page of a Kiwi driver......
IainW said:
Quite amusing reading some of the fans (probably the ones Jimmy Richards was on about) comments on the drivers Facebook pages. "Go back to Asiatown Nissan" and many similar ones. Funniest was on Shane van Gisbergen's page when he asked what people thought of it. Somebody said "we don't want them, bring back our homegrown Aussie championship!". On the page of a Kiwi driver......
Some V8 Supercar "fans" are an emabarrassment to the nation.IainW said:
Quite amusing reading some of the fans (probably the ones Jimmy Richards was on about) comments on the drivers Facebook pages. "Go back to Asiatown Nissan" and many similar ones. Funniest was on Shane van Gisbergen's page when he asked what people thought of it. Somebody said "we don't want them, bring back our homegrown Aussie championship!". On the page of a Kiwi driver......
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