Thursday 28th September 2017

Supercars in 360 degrees: Time For Coffee?

Onboard what was formerly known as a V8 Supercar at Sandown. In the rain. In 360 degrees. Hold on!

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It may not be called V8 Supercars any more, but Australia's premier touring car series remains a fantastically competitive and incredibly exciting championship. And as this video proves, it's even good watching when there's just a single car...

This clip is from the recent Sandown 500 weekend, onboard with Nissan driver Michael Caruso for a lap. This isn't a conventional onboard however, as the video is in 360 degrees - technology that's still fresh enough for the novelty to have not worn off.

To be able to scroll all around the screen and see Caruso at work is a real treat, the Aussie feverishly busy at the wheel in the damp conditions. Any concerns that modern racing cars are a bit sterile should be allayed in these 90 seconds: watch the stabs of opposite lock (sometimes right when you're not expecting them), the heel and toe downchanges and the furious commitment required to get this Nissan around a lap. Indeed you could just watch the foot cam the whole time, if you wish...

There aren't many 360-degree videos on the Supercars channel at the moment; on this evidence you would have to hope they can continue. As one commenter has already said, bring on the Bathurst vids!

Watch the video here.

[Image: LAT]

[JMF894]

Didn't know about the 360 view. Fantastic! Interesting sound from a V8 I must add.........................

[sumpoil]

Awesome stuff! .... even though it's a sequential 'box it's nice to see drivers having to use 3 pedals and shift manually.

Don't keep up with this series as much as I used to. Why have they dropped the 'V8' from the name? Is it now open to other engine configurations or is it in preparation for a move away from n/a engines?

[rodericb]

sumpoil said:

Awesome stuff! .... even though it's a sequential 'box it's nice to see drivers having to use 3 pedals and shift manually.

Don't keep up with this series as much as I used to. Why have they dropped the 'V8' from the name? Is it now open to other engine configurations or is it in preparation for a move away from n/a engines?

Yeah, the rules were changed in mid 2016 for the 2017 season to allow turbo 4's and turbo 6's (as well as 2 door cars) but no one has run any car like that yet. It also coincides with the cessation of manufacture of the Falcon and Commodore.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Holdens will run the 3.5TT in some races next year but still a four door saloon shell, the V8's have been great this year real close.

As a sidebar Motorsport TV will be showing Bathurst 1000 live.

Here's an onboards & intro to a lap around Bathurst:

https://youtu.be/nwn3uIoNVKo

A nice intro to the Great Race

https://youtu.be/lJCE-0CnoVA

One of the funniest onboard commentaries I've heard.

https://youtu.be/kLkLtBkUVuo

[moktabe]

Seen some great cars going around Sandown.

Used to travel to Melbourne with European horses for The Melbourne Cup and the quarantine centre was next to the racetrack.

A short walk up a grass bank and there was the track, good times.