Mark Webber to V8 Supercars 2013/2014 Season ?

[npope]

Well going out on a limb, RedBull have just signed a 5 year deal with Holden Racing (Vodafone) starting next season. This team is the team Mark follows and I know he has said before he would like to return to Oz and race in V8. So could it be a done deal?

Also I would not be surprised to see Stoner in the same team?

[Life Saab Itch]

He's signed up to the F1 team next year. 2014 I'd expect to see him in a Porsche in the WEC.

[npope]

Sorry yes I mean the 2014 season, 2013/2014 after F1 closes

[hiccy]

Webber and Stoner in the same team in honking great V8's? I'd actually pay to watch that!

Hope that leech Murdoch isn't reading this.

[rubystone]

Perhaps Stoner might do that after a year off, but Webber does seem to be settled in England...several business interests and a partner who seems to love English life.

There are a lot of specialist V8 drivers would give their right hand for that Holden seat and the 'advantages' the cars seem to provide....i know one in a Brad Jones car for example...

[npope]

Well this might some true at least the Stoner part, he is in the pits for todays V8 race and said he will be around a lot more next year and would love to race. Also being sponsored by RedBull I am sure he will fit in to Holden.

Might even have a flutter

[Blib]

Bedazzled said:

I'd love to see Webber and Stoner racing in those, are the V8 Supercar races televised in the UK? Let me guess... Sky?

Aussie V8s are on Motors TV.

[mattikake]

Ha. Webber v Stoner is a good rumour to start! Someone get on twitter.

[mrCa]

Why would Triple Eight swap two of the absolute best V8Supercars drivers (Whincup and Lowndes) with two rookies (albeit with an impressive CV, but with no (real) experience in the V8's)??? Perhaps if they would launch a second satellite team(like STR in the F1) that they could let them drive, otherwise I would not understand the swap.

[npope]

mrCa said:

Why would Triple Eight swap two of the absolute best V8Supercars drivers (Whincup and Lowndes) with two rookies (albeit with an impressive CV, but with no (real) experience in the V8's)??? Perhaps if they would launch a second satellite team(like STR in the F1) that they could let them drive, otherwise I would not understand the swap.

Dont think it will be both next year but I hate to say it I think CL will get the push for Stoner, if RedBull are bringing the money then I guess they can call the shots Stonner and then Webber soon after.

[retrobob]

Stoner was interviewed in the T888 pits today saying he definitely wants in at V8 supercars if he is good enough.

edit > found a link >

http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/09/15/casey-stoner-n...

Edited by retrobob on Sunday 16th September 15:52

[John D.]

mrCa said:

Why would Triple Eight swap two of the absolute best V8Supercars drivers (Whincup and Lowndes) with two rookies (albeit with an impressive CV, but with no (real) experience in the V8's)??? Perhaps if they would launch a second satellite team(like STR in the F1) that they could let them drive, otherwise I would not understand the swap.

Bang on.

Reminds me of Derek Warwick and Nigel Mansell in BTCC 15yrs ago. Neither covered themselves in glory. Mansell did have some utterly fantastic red mist moments that John Cleland would have been proud of though!

[mattikake]

John D. said:

Bang on.

Reminds me of Derek Warwick and Nigel Mansell in BTCC 15yrs ago. Neither covered themselves in glory. Mansell did have some utterly fantastic red mist moments that John Cleland would have been proud of though!

Er, Mansell only raced in a total of 6 races IIRC, all of which in arguably the worst car on the grid. How you can call this his failing I dunno.

Then there was this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXkWUCBoe4k

Personally I think Nige's style was born touring cars. A big miss he never took it up.

Anyway, what about Tarquini? Champion at BTCC and WTCC.

IMO if you're good enough for F1, you're good enough for any formula.

[DanDC5]

Sure Webber has said in the past when he retires he wants to go back to oz and race there. I can see him in V8 supercars but maybe not as soon as 2014.

[robmlufc]

I fancy Webber to have another pop at Le Mans post F1.

[DiscoColin]

I can't see Webber doing the Supercar series any time soon, but once he is done with F1 I certainly CAN imagine him being the second driver for one of the top cars at Bathurst...?

And on the subject of Bathurst, any guesses as to how long this will take to complete a lap there : http://www.v8supercars.com.au/championship/newsart...

Edited by DiscoColin on Monday 17th September 18:52

[mrCa]

mattikake said:

Er, Mansell only raced in a total of 6 races IIRC, all of which in arguably the worst car on the grid. How you can call this his failing I dunno.

Then there was this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXkWUCBoe4k

Personally I think Nige's style was born touring cars. A big miss he never took it up.

Anyway, what about Tarquini? Champion at BTCC and WTCC.

IMO if you're good enough for F1, you're good enough for any formula.

I partially agree that if you're good enough for F1 (although if you're a paying driver this you do not automatically qualify for that imo) you can race any other formula. You certainly can race each class, but being successful in that class is a whole other story. If you look at Montoya going to NASCAR then you see that a step to a non formula racing and heavy racing car and ovals does not automatically transform you in a top driver in that class. I rate Stewart/K.Busch/Johnson/etc. higher then JPM in that class. Same goes for V8Supercars. Whincup and Lowndes are the best in V8Supercars. V8's are not easy to drive, far from it. You see all international top drivers struggling in the endurance (and Surfers Paradise) races. To trade in the top series drivers for inexperienced rookies would be a big mistake (imo). Not only you create a stronger competitor (they most certainly will go to the top other teams), but you weaken your team as well (less of experience, learning year).

Furthermore I doubt if 888 is the team that let it dictate its drivers. It is the top team in the V8's. I also think RB is clever enough to understand that you can better have Whincup/Lowndes team then a Stoner/Webber team. Why change the dominant force, in favor of some popular drivers? Hendrik Motorsports did with Earnhardt and it took them 5 years to get it right, while on the other hand Kyle Busch was winning...

[Blib]

But, Montoya is consistently excellent on the road courses that NASCAR visits. I do not think Webber would have any trouble whatsoever in Aussie V8s

[DanDC5]

Blib said:

But, Montoya is consistently excellent on the road courses that NASCAR visits. I do not think Webber would have any trouble whatsoever in Aussie V8s

Marcos Ambrose has been the same on road courses in NASCAR as a good V8SC comparison. His 2 wins so far have both been on road courses. I could see Webber doing very well in the V8SC's to be honest, and he'd certainly be a fan favourite.

[28jaguar]

It would be extremely confronting for some dedicated F1/Webber fans, to see him in a V8Supercar. He would be terrible! Another class where he can show he's not quite good enough. He's never won a series in any class, despite driving the equal/best cars. He just doesn't have the mental stength. His status as a GP driver/winner carries his reputation. Not one V8 Supercar driver, including the mediocre ones (most of them) would be hugely worried about his presence, from a competitive point of view. In fact, as someone who attends lower national/state competiton, I'm not conviced Webber would win the Victorian HQ Holden series. Not becasue the Vic HQ drivers are as good as Alonso/Vettel, but because Mark doesn't have it in him to be a genuine winner.

I know that comes across as a troll, but it isn't. I would love to see him in Vic HQ's, I can't say, with any confidence, he'd win it.

As far as Stoner is concerned, is he seriously considering V8s? If so, what an emptyhead! A guy who's got no serious car racing experience is going to go and "race" a 600+hp V8Supercar? A guy who's ridden bikes for all but a few weeks of his life, thinks he's going to "race" a 600+hp V8 Supercar? Jacques Villeneuve is a 10 year F1 veteran, F1 champ, Indy 500 winner, Indycar champ, Le Mans podium. Yet, he's struggled in a V8 Supercar. But, Stoner wants to do it and thinks he's up to it? It's be like a baseball batter batting in cricket.

One of the reasons he's quitting Gp, is beacuse MotoGP has been dumbed down with CRT asd the tech taken out, but a V8 Supercar (next year) is about as dumbed down racing car as it can get. Lucky for him he's good at riding a bike, he wouldn't score a point on Letters & Numbers/Countdown...

Edited by 28jaguar on Tuesday 18th September 04:10