Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Ford, Holden and Nissan introduced their V8 Supercar challengers a while back. Erebus Motorport, whose racing program got the green light not even 120 days ago, has finally shown off the Mercedes-Benz E-Class racer that will complete this year's field of entries. The first AMG race car ever to be built outside of Germany, it's an Australian-built tube-frame chassis specced to the series' Car of Tomorrow rules, fitted with body panels that channel the E63 AMG.

Supported by AMG Customer Motorsport, the 5.0-liter engine is provided by HWA in Germany, the racing arm of AMG. Regulations dictate that it have roughly 650 horsepower, a redline between 7,000 and 7,500 rpm and a torque curve that matches the parity baseline set for all cars.

Lee Holdsworth, Tim Slade and Maro Engel will drive the three team cars, each with different sponsors. Their first showing will be at the Clipsal 500 on March 3 in Adelaide, here in the US we'll get to see them in May at the Circuit of the Americas. Check out the videos below of the Erebus car starting up at its launch, and footage of all of this year's cars doing pre-season testing on track together.

Continue reading Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos]

Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amge63 amgerebus motorsporthwalee holdsworthmaro engelmercedes-benztim sladev8 supercarsSat, 23 Feb 2013 16:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20472433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/20472433/article-detail.xml 20472433 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mercedesv8supercar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mercedesv8supercar.jpg <![CDATA[Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



This is the new Holden Commodore dressed up for duty as a V8 Supercar. Revealed two days after the VF sedan broke cover, the Holden Racing Team unleashed the racing version on Facebook and YouTube (click the image above to enlarge). This one does away with the black and gold introductory livery but keeps the Holden lions.

And get ready for this weekend, when the standard Commodore sedan - not the Calais trim - gets revealed, as well as the Chevrolet SS and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class V8 Supercar from Erebus. While you wait, check out the video below to see the Commodore V8SC on the track.

Continue reading Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video]

Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commodorecommodore v8 supercarholdenholden commodoreholden racing teamhrtv8 supercarsvideovideosyoutubeFri, 15 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20459656/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/20459656/article-detail.xml 20459656 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holdenv8sc2013_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holdenv8sc2013.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/nissan-unveils-altima-based-v8-supercars-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/nissan-unveils-altima-based-v8-supercars-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/nissan-unveils-altima-based-v8-supercars-w-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercars with drivers

Good as it is, when we think about the Nissan Altima, the words "V8" or "supercar" are not in our vernacular, but Nissan Motorsports is looking to change all that. After unveiling the race version of its Altima sedan intended for the Australian V8 Supercars series back in October, the four race teams and their cars were revealed yesterday ahead of a preseason test session this weekend.

Two of the Altima racecars will be sponsored by Jack Daniels while the other two will wear Norton (as in Norton Anti-Virus) black-and-yellow livery. The season officially kicks off on March 1, and we'll get to see the V8-powered Altima on US soil from May 17-19 when the V8 Supercars series hits the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Scroll down to watch a couple videos and a press release issued for the team introductions.

Continue reading Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]

Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan altimanissannissan motorsportsv8 supercarv8 supercarsvideoWed, 13 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20459564/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/13/nissan-unveils-altima-based-v8-supercars-w-videos/20459564/article-detail.xml 20459564 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/628-nissan-altima-v8-supercars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/628-nissan-altima-v8-supercars.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Nissan's V8 Supercar on its inaugural track outing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/watch-nissans-v8-supercar-on-its-inaugural-track-outing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/watch-nissans-v8-supercar-on-its-inaugural-track-outing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/watch-nissans-v8-supercar-on-its-inaugural-track-outing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Nissan and Kelly Racing recently put the new Australian V8 Supercar Altima on the track for the first time in order to do a little aerodynamic testing. Team owner and driver Todd Kelly took the machine around Calder Park despite the fact that he's currently recovering from shoulder reconstruction surgery. Kelly said the car feels good, but there's still plenty of work to do between now and next March when the sedan will see its official race debut. Though this is the first of the Altima racers to put tire to tarmac, Kelly racing is working on an additional three cars for competition.

Those should be completed by the end of the year if everything goes as planned. As you may recall, the V8 Supercars Altima benefits from a reworked Nissan VK56DE 5.6-liter V8 engine. All told, Nissan has sunk around $1.56 million into the new V8 Supercars program to become the first brand other than Ford or Holden to compete in the series in nearly 20 years. Check out the car in action below.

Continue reading Watch Nissan's V8 Supercar on its inaugural track outing

Watch Nissan's V8 Supercar on its inaugural track outing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan altimaaltimaaustraliaaustralian v8 supercarsaustralian v8 supercars altimakelly racingnissanv8 supercarsv8 supercars altimaMon, 05 Nov 2012 18:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20370558/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/05/watch-nissans-v8-supercar-on-its-inaugural-track-outing/20370558/article-detail.xml 20370558 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/altima07-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/altima07-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford picks black and blue stripes as official racing colors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/ford-picks-black-and-blue-stripes-as-official-racing-colors/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/ford-picks-black-and-blue-stripes-as-official-racing-colors/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/ford-picks-black-and-blue-stripes-as-official-racing-colors/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford Racing Livery

Ford has a new livery for its racing efforts. The automaker has officially chosen an offset black and blue stripe as its family colors. The paint scheme officially debuted on the new 2013 Ford Fusion headed to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the automaker says we can expect to see it crop up in every corner of the company's racing program. That includes on the NASCAR Mustang, the NHRA Mustang Funny Car, Grand-Am Focus ST-R, the Rally America Fiesta, the BITD off-road F-150, the CTCC Focus and the V8 Supercar Falcon in Australia. How's that for a family portrait?

We've already seen a hint of the new livery on prototype models like the new twin-turbo Cobra Jet, but Ford says the actual racers will feature the gloss black and blue stripes on a matte black field. We like the sound of that combo. Check out the quick press release below for more information.

Continue reading Ford picks black and blue stripes as official racing colors

Ford picks black and blue stripes as official racing colors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecoboostfordford ecoboost liveryford liveryford racingliverymotorsportsnascarnhraracingv8 supercarsWed, 31 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20366438/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/31/ford-picks-black-and-blue-stripes-as-official-racing-colors/20366438/article-detail.xml 20366438 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ford-racing-livery-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ford-racing-livery-628.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/nissan-reveals-altima-v8-supercar-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/nissan-reveals-altima-v8-supercar-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/nissan-reveals-altima-v8-supercar-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercar reveal on plinth

Seven months after announcing it was reentering the series and $1.5M AUD later ($1.56M USD), this is your new Nissan Altima for the Australian V8 Supercar Series. Just unveiled in Melbourne by Kelly Racing, the racer is Nissan's take on the Car of the Future (COTF) regulations credited with returning other manufacturers to the series. Under the hood is a derivative of Nissan's VK56DE engine, the 5.6-liter V8 that will be slotted into the 2013 Nissan Patrol SUV. Beefed up but downsized to five liters to satisfy regulations, it will put out more than 600 horsepower.

Todd Kelly of Kelly Racing says it didn't take all that much to transform the production Altima's production bodywork to fit over the control chassis: "Aside from flaring of the rear guards, and extending of the front guards; the doors, roof, bonnet and bootlid panels are all the same length as the road car." Shapelier and more compact than the entries from Ford, Holden and Mercedes-Benz, the V8 Supercars bosses will be testing this Nissan to ensure aerodynamic parity with the other cars.

Kelly Racing namesakes Todd and Rick will take the wheel at the season's February opener in Adelaide, the Clipsal 500. As of today, the team is known as Nissan Motorsports but the livery you see is just for the launch; the competition car will wear the Jack Daniels sponsorship worn by the team's Holden Commodore racecars now. Nissan hasn't been in the series in the two decades since that car (the GT-R) was kicked out, and its return throws four carmakers into battle, doubling the current tally. Now enjoy the video and press release below while we wait for Mercedes to show its hand.

Continue reading Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]

Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan altimaaltimakelly racingnissannissan altima v8touring carv8 supercarsvideoTue, 30 Oct 2012 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20365060/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/30/nissan-reveals-altima-v8-supercar-w-video/20365060/article-detail.xml 20365060 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/628-altima-v8-supercar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/628-altima-v8-supercar.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/nissan-altima-v8-only-for-australias-touring-car-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/nissan-altima-v8-only-for-australias-touring-car-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/nissan-altima-v8-only-for-australias-touring-car-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Nissan Altima V8 Supercars

By all accounts, the 2013 Nissan Altima is an excellent vehicle, but that doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from the addition of a heady V8 under the hood. Nissan Motorsport has cured that ail by constructing four Altima racers for the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, each with their own 32-valve VK56DE engine in the nose. The bruisers will start campaigning next season, and will mark the first entry in the series from any brand outside of Ford or Holden in nearly twenty years. Nissan has already produced the first of its race engines, and the team is currently working on whipping up another 14 examples for the next season.

Nissan Motorsport is set to unveil the actual race cars next week, but until then, you can check out the video below. In it, the team shows off the progress that's been made so far, including cranking out body molds and building cage structures. Looks like fun.

Continue reading Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series

Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 altima2013 nissan altimaaltimaaustralian v8 supercarsnissannissan altima v8v8 supercarsv8 supercars championshipTue, 23 Oct 2012 19:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20358185/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/23/nissan-altima-v8-only-for-australias-touring-car-series/20358185/article-detail.xml 20358185 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/altima-v8-supercars-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/altima-v8-supercars-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mercedes E63 AMGs will race in Australia's V8 Supercar series next season, Holden debuts new Commodore race car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/mercedes-e63-amgs-will-race-in-australias-v8-supercar-series-ne/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/mercedes-e63-amgs-will-race-in-australias-v8-supercar-series-ne/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/mercedes-e63-amgs-will-race-in-australias-v8-supercar-series-ne/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG badge

Ford and Holden have, just the two of them, been holding down the V8 Supercars fort for years now. The introduction of the Car of the Future regulations, which puts carmaker body panels on top of a generic chassis, induced Nissan Australia to join the party in 2013 with four of its Altima sedans. Chrysler Group Australia recently said it would not be lining up. So did Mercedes-Benz Australia, but an acquisition and an international agreement between Erebus Motorsports, Stone Brothers Racing and AMG's Customer Sports Program run by HWA means E63 AMGs will be on the starting line for the first race of 2013.

SBR has been in V8SC since 1998, the entire time with Ford, and won three championships with The Blue Oval, while Erebus runs SLS AMG GT3 coupes in the Australian GT Championship. Erebus bought SBR and its two licenses and grandfathered the rights to the third license that SBR has a lease on, then worked out a deal with AMG to get factory support. That support will come via HWA, the company run by AMG co-founder Hans Werner Aufrecht, that also preps Mercedes DTM cars.

As with Nissan, which shrunk the displacement of its Nissan Motorsport VK56DE V8 from 5.6 liters to 5.0 liters to satisfy V8SC regs, the E63 AMG motor will be a 5.0-liter iteration of the 6.2-liter V8 from Erebus' SLS AMG GT3 racer. Final parity spec for the AMG engine is still being sorted out with the governing body, and even though other makers' cars have been unveiled and on the track, the AMG engine still hasn't made it to the dyno. Even so, the privately funded team has been provided the necessary millions to make it to the starting gate by Erebus owner Betty Klimenko, and SBR has proved that it knows how to build a car.

Swallowed up in all the changes coming to the sport had been Holden, but not anymore. The Holden Racing Team took the hullabaloo of the Erebus-SBR as an excuse to unveil its new matte black and gold Commodore, and you can watch the covers pulled back in the video below.

Continue reading Mercedes E63 AMGs will race in Australia's V8 Supercar series next season, Holden debuts new Commodore race car

Mercedes E63 AMGs will race in Australia's V8 Supercar series next season, Holden debuts new Commodore race car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amgaustraliae63 amgerebusholdenhwamercedes-benzstone brothersv8 supercarsMon, 24 Sep 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20329295/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/24/mercedes-e63-amgs-will-race-in-australias-v8-supercar-series-ne/20329295/article-detail.xml 20329295 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mbe63amg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mbe63amg.jpg <![CDATA[FPR debuts Falcon Car of the Future for V8 Supercars series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/08/fpr-debuts-falcon-car-of-the-future-for-v8-supercar-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/08/fpr-debuts-falcon-car-of-the-future-for-v8-supercar-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/08/fpr-debuts-falcon-car-of-the-future-for-v8-supercar-series/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

FPR Falcon COTF

Usually, shaking down a new race car can be full of agony and heartaches, so it's surprising how positive Ford Performance Racing's (FPR) feedback was after its first tests with the Ford Falcon Car of the Future (COTF). This new racer is being tested in preparation for the 2013 Australian V8 Supercars season.

In total, the Falcon COTF ran 20 laps around Winton Motor Raceway, and based on the initial tests, FPR said the car performed better than expected during a short session. The car will perform its first full day of testing on Monday ahead of the Dick Smith Sandown 500.

That's not all the news happening for next year's V8 Supercar season. We already knew that Nissan is returning to the series for the first time since 1993, but now we know what'll be under the hood of its Altima racer: a Nissan Motorsport VK56DE V8 engine. Made in Tennessee, this aluminum V8 has been modified for race use by dropping its displacement from 5.6 liters down to 5.0 to comply with V8 Supercars regs.

Of course, we'll be able to see all of these cars in action in the U.S. next season when the V8 Supercars invade the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

FPR debuts Falcon Car of the Future for V8 Supercars series originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford falconaustralian v8 supercarscar of the futurefordford performance racingv8 supercarsSat, 08 Sep 2012 15:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20316810/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/08/fpr-debuts-falcon-car-of-the-future-for-v8-supercar-series/20316810/article-detail.xml 20316810 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fpr-falcon-cotf_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fpr-falcon-cotf.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan entering V8 Supercar series in Australia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/nissan-entering-v8-supercar-series-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/nissan-entering-v8-supercar-series-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/nissan-entering-v8-supercar-series-in-australia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nissan GT-R Le Mans

Nissan is headed back to the Australian V8 Supercar Series. The Japanese Automaker was famously ousted in 1993 when the sanctioning body behind the series adjusted the rules to require all entries be V8-based. Nissan had dominated the series for three years with the company's GT-R, laying waste to the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive dinosaurs from Holden and Ford with a high-tech combination of all-wheel drive and turbocharged six-cylinder fury. In 1991, the company set a top-speed record at the Bathurst 1000 that wouldn't be touched for nine years. The following season, the company was forced to carry 100 kg of weight and run reduced boost pressure. It didn't matter. The GT-R still cleaned up.

Nissan is entering the series under the fairly new Car of the Future program, which was designed to make the series more attractive to competitors and sponsors. Interestingly enough, the Car of the Future Program was started by none other than Mark Skaife, the man who piloted the GT-R to many a win in the early '90s. Nissan's racer will be forced to use a generic V8 drivetrain to conform to the rule book, so don't expect to see any more turbo sixes dotting eyes on the track. Likewise, the all-wheel drive of the GT-R will be off the table.

Still, any amount of diversity in a series that's been Holden versus Ford for so long is a step in the right direction. As far as we know, four cars will carry the Nissan badge in the 2013 season and be campaigned by Kelly Racing. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Nissan entering V8 Supercar series in Australia

Nissan entering V8 Supercar series in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australianissannissan v8 supercarsv8 supercar seriesv8 supercarsThu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20168301/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/09/nissan-entering-v8-supercar-series-in-australia/20168301/article-detail.xml 20168301 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/nissan-gt-r-le-mans-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/nissan-gt-r-le-mans-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler considering entry into Australia's V8 Supercar series?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/chrysler-considering-entry-into-australias-v8-supercar-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/chrysler-considering-entry-into-australias-v8-supercar-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/chrysler-considering-entry-into-australias-v8-supercar-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

First-gen Chrysler 300C pace car

Wherever you find General Motors and Ford going at it, Chrysler is seldom very far behind. Except in Australia. The Land Down Under has its own unique touring car championship in the form of its popular V8 Supercars series, but the only contestants these days are Ford (with its FPV Falcon) and GM subsidiary Holden (with its HSV Commodore). That, however, could change in the near future.

Word on the Aussie street is that Chrysler Group Australia is entertaining the possibility of jumping into the popular series, likely with a vehicle based (however loosely) on the 300. Because V8 Supercars teams - which budget around $10 million to run two cars for the season - are by regulation independent of any manufacturer, Chrysler would need to woo a few away from their current Ford or Holden partners, but several have reportedly approached the Pentastar automaker about the possibility.

The addition of a third manufacturer to challenge Ford and Holden would mirror a similar move made this season by BMW to challenge Audi and Mercedes-Benz (which was also rumored to be considering a V8 Supercars entry) in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). Chrysler previously supplied the V8 Supercars series with the first-gen 300C SRT8, which serves as the pace car for several years.

According to Australia's The Age, SRT brand CEO Ralph Gilles reportedly likes the idea, but stopped short of committing to any impending program. The prospect, however, could be made more feasible by a new, more cost-effective "Car of the Future" being implemented in V8 Supercars, much as the "Car of Tomorrow" was in NASCAR and the "Next-Generation Touring Car" was in the British Touring Car Championship. Another plus is the expansion of the series outside of Australia to locations like India, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and - most crucially - the United States as a support race for the upcoming U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race in Austin, Texas.

Chrysler considering entry into Australia's V8 Supercar series? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslersrtv8 supercarsv8 supercars seriesWed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155025/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/25/chrysler-considering-entry-into-australias-v8-supercar-series/20155025/article-detail.xml 20155025 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chrysler300-v8sc-pace2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chrysler300-v8sc-pace2.jpg <![CDATA[Final lap of Bathurst race is definitely worth watching]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/11/final-lap-of-bathurst-race-is-definitely-worth-watching/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/11/final-lap-of-bathurst-race-is-definitely-worth-watching/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/11/final-lap-of-bathurst-race-is-definitely-worth-watching/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bathurst 1000 final lap

Australian V8 Supercar races are coming to the U.S. in 2013, and here's another look at what you might be able to expect at the end of six hours of racing.

This time, rookie veteran Garth Tander, who shared race duties with rookie Nick Percat, in a ragged Holden has to hold off veteran Craig Lowndes in a slightly better car if Tander is going to win, and... well, you'll just have to flip past the jump for the last few laps to find out. If you like racing at all, it'll be worth it.

Continue reading Final lap of Bathurst race is definitely worth watching

Final lap of Bathurst race is definitely worth watching originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaaustralian v8 supercarsbathurstbathurst 1000Craig Lowndesgarth tanderholdenv8 supercarsTue, 11 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20078764/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/11/final-lap-of-bathurst-race-is-definitely-worth-watching/20078764/article-detail.xml 20078764 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/bathurst10002011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/bathurst10002011.jpg <![CDATA[NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/nascar-great-darrell-waltrip-gets-the-ride-of-his-life-in-v8-sup/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/nascar-great-darrell-waltrip-gets-the-ride-of-his-life-in-v8-sup/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/nascar-great-darrell-waltrip-gets-the-ride-of-his-life-in-v8-sup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Darrell Waltrip is no stranger to going fast. After all, he's got three Winston Cups to his name and 84 race wins at the pinnacle of stock car racing.

But you see, he's used to driving. On ovals. So when they flew him Down Under as part of Speed's coverage of the Bathurst 1000 - one of the most recognizable events in the V8 Supercars series - he got an entirely different perspective: one from the passenger seat, riding shotgun in a Holden Commodore around the Mount Panorama circuit. We'll let the video after the jump for itself, but suffice it to say Waltrip had the ride of his life.

Continue reading NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia

NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabathurstbathurst 1000darrell waltripnascarv8 supercarsvideowaltripMon, 10 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20077904/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/10/nascar-great-darrell-waltrip-gets-the-ride-of-his-life-in-v8-sup/20077904/article-detail.xml 20077904 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/waltrip-on-bathurst-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/waltrip-on-bathurst-628.jpg <![CDATA[Aussie racer objects to track conditions by... taking over?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/aussie-racer-objects-to-track-conditions-by-taking-over/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/aussie-racer-objects-to-track-conditions-by-taking-over/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/aussie-racer-objects-to-track-conditions-by-taking-over/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

phil ward delays start to aussie racing cars event queensland

The man pictured above is Phil Ward. He is a former pro Touring Car driver who was inspired by the American Legends and started the Aussie Racing Cars series. These are scaled-down imitations of popular racecars found in the V8 Supercars series, powered by turbocharged 1.2-liter twin-cam Yamaha motors. That mill is paired with a sequential manual transmission, and the entire concept seems like it would equal about as much fun as you can have with 125 horsepower.

But that's not what we're here to talk about. Before the start of a recent race in Queensland, Ward apparently wasn't happy with the track conditions. Rather than sit and wait for officials to do something about it, Ward ran his Aussie Racing Car to the front of the grid, hopped out and told officials to delay the start. We guess if you own the series, you can do things like that.

Still, the delayed start nearly caused serious issues for those drivers finishing their warm-up laps. Click past the jump to see Ward delay the race, and the resulting (almost) carnage. Also, pay close attention towards the end of the video to get an idea of the scale of cars being raced. Either they are that tiny, or the Porsche Panamera pace car is enormous. (Okay, so maybe it's a bit of both...)

Continue reading Aussie racer objects to track conditions by... taking over?

Aussie racer objects to track conditions by... taking over? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aussie racing carsaustralialegend racerlegendsphil wardqueenslandracingv8 supercarsvideoyamahaThu, 25 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20025982/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/25/aussie-racer-objects-to-track-conditions-by-taking-over/20025982/article-detail.xml 20025982 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/aussie-legends-interrupted_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/aussie-legends-interrupted.jpg <![CDATA[V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

V8 Supercars series press conference in Austin, TX
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Queensland, Australia Premier Anna Bligh celebrate V8 Supercars agreement

It's official - Australia's V8 Supercars series is set to bash fenders in Austin, Texas in 2013. The news comes hard on the heels of the Austin city council approving the United States Grand Prix Formula One race at the Circuit of the Americas.

The FIA-sanctioned touring car series has signed a five-year contract and the two 124-mile (200-km) races will be televised live on SPEED. The 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas will also play host to MotoGP bike racing, having sewn up that series from 2013 to 2022. Check out the full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013

V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anna blighaustincircuit of the americasrick perrysupercarstexastouring carv8 supercarsThu, 30 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19980789/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/19980789/article-detail.xml 19980789 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/circuit-of-the-americas-v8-supercars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/circuit-of-the-americas-v8-supercars.jpg <![CDATA[V8 Supercar driver celebrates win by drifting entire victory lap]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/v8-supercar-driver-celebrates-win-by-drifting-entire-victory-lap/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/v8-supercar-driver-celebrates-win-by-drifting-entire-victory-lap/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/v8-supercar-driver-celebrates-win-by-drifting-entire-victory-lap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shane Van Driftenberg
V8 Supercar race winner drifts around the track - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Racing is racing. Drifting is drifting. The two don't generally cross over, for one simple reason: drifting is slow, and racing is fast.

Unless your name is Gilles Villeneuve, the general rule is that drifting through a corner isn't as fast as braking on the way in, clipping the apex and powering out. But at the Skycity Triple Crown this past weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway in Dawin, Australia, one Shane Van Gisbergen celebrated victory by drifting his Ford Falcon V8 Supercar around nearly the entire cool-down lap sideways, the tires lit up and the crowd going wild. It's a rare sight, and you can watch it for yourself in the video after the jump.

Continue reading V8 Supercar driver celebrates win by drifting entire victory lap

V8 Supercar driver celebrates win by drifting entire victory lap originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driftfalconfordford falconShane Van Gisbergenv8 supercarsMon, 20 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19970947/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/20/v8-supercar-driver-celebrates-win-by-drifting-entire-victory-lap/19970947/article-detail.xml 19970947 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/shane-van-driftenberg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/shane-van-driftenberg.jpg <![CDATA[Australia's V8 Supercar series coming to America?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/australias-v8-supercar-series-coming-to-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/australias-v8-supercar-series-coming-to-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/australias-v8-supercar-series-coming-to-america/#commentsFiled under: ,

V8 Supercars

Talk to most car fans about V8 supercars and they'll probably start talking Ferrari and Corvette. But to Australians, V8 Supercars is a racing series - one of the most popular touring car series in the world, and one that is only gaining popularity.

The championship pits race-spec Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores against each other on road courses around Australia and New Zealand, but has been known to travel abroad as well. This year's calendar kicked off in Abu Dhabi, after previous seasons included trips to Bahrain and China. But coming years could see the Aussie series making the trans-Pacific voyage to North America.

Recent developments have given the predominantly Australian championship a more international profile. For one, the FIA has promoted it to international status, as opposed to a national series. For another, a steady stream of world-renowned racing drivers (like multiple Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves, four-time Champ Car champ Sebastien Bourdais, multiple touring car champions Andy Priaulx and Yvan Muller, and former F1 world champ Jacques Villeneuve) have been flying Down Under to take a crack at it. Speed's coverage of some of the series' marquee events hasn't hurt either, and the series' new owners - a private equity firm who bought it from a consortium of promoters and teams - may be eager to capitalize on their investment.

While the series' organizers have previously rejected the notion of coming to North America, with all these factors aligned, they're suddenly singing a different tune. General Motors is apparently keen on the idea, which could come to fruition as early as the 2013 season if all the stars line up just right. Just where such a race might take place remains to be seen, but a West Coast venue would be the smart bet. Organizers could, meanwhile, opt to hold a race as part of a stand-alone three-day weekend event like its home races in Australia, or pair it with an existing spectacle such as an IndyCar or ALMS race.

Australia's V8 Supercar series coming to America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiatouring carv8 supercarsMon, 06 Jun 2011 14:37:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19958671/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/06/australias-v8-supercar-series-coming-to-america/19958671/article-detail.xml 19958671 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/v8supercarssurfersparadise_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/v8supercarssurfersparadise.jpg <![CDATA[Terrifying V8 Supercar crash on the grid at Barbagallo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/01/terrifying-v8-supercar-crash-on-the-grid-at-barbagallo/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/01/terrifying-v8-supercar-crash-on-the-grid-at-barbagallo/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/01/terrifying-v8-supercar-crash-on-the-grid-at-barbagallo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Karl Reindler Crash
Karl Reindler's crash at Barbagallo - Click above to view video after the jump

Today's round of the Australian V8 Supercar series at Barbagallo didn't even get to the first corner before a massive accident brought out the caution. When the green flag waved, driver Karl Reindler stalled his Holden Commodore and was rammed from behind by Steve Owen. Owen had already accelerated to almost 95 mph by the time he came into contact with Reindler.

The enormous impact was enough to make Reindler's Holden explode into flames, and sent both parties spinning into the infield. Luckily, Reindler was able to find his own way out of his stricken Holden, and somehow escaped with only minor burns to his hands and face. Owen was unharmed in the wreck, though officials sent him to the infield medical center after he complained of soreness. After a 95-0 impact, we'd say that much is expected. Hop over the jump to see the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Anthony Mark!


[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Terrifying V8 Supercar crash on the grid at Barbagallo

Terrifying V8 Supercar crash on the grid at Barbagallo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaaustralian v8 supercarsbarbagallocommodorecrashholdenholden commodorekarlkarl reindler crashowenperthreindlerstevesteve owenv8 supercarsSun, 01 May 2011 19:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19928769/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/01/terrifying-v8-supercar-crash-on-the-grid-at-barbagallo/19928769/article-detail.xml 19928769 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/reindler-crash-lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/reindler-crash-lead.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for "skateboard"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/28/video-plank-tiny-wheels-v8-supercar-engine-aussie-for-sk/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/28/video-plank-tiny-wheels-v8-supercar-engine-aussie-for-sk/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/28/video-plank-tiny-wheels-v8-supercar-engine-aussie-for-sk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tony Hawk V8 Skateboard
The Aussies prepare a special skateboard for Tony Hawk - Click above to watch video after the jump

Tony Hawk will be in attendance at the Telstra 500 V8 Supercar race in Sydney next weekend, where he'll demonstrate his undiminished skills on the Monster Vert Ramp. As part of his welcome to the Antipodes, the locals have built him a 'skateboard' powered by a 630-horsepower V8 Supercar engine. Unlike the race cars, with their fancy roll cages and steering wheels, Tony just gets a throttle and a panic button. We'd love to see him run the ramp with it, but we'll settle for him going just a little faster than the guy in the video after the jump. Hat tip to Allan

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for "skateboard"

Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for "skateboard" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>skateboardtelstra 500tony hawkv8 supercarsSun, 28 Nov 2010 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19735325/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/28/video-plank-tiny-wheels-v8-supercar-engine-aussie-for-sk/19735325/article-detail.xml 19735325 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/hawk-v8-skateboard-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/hawk-v8-skateboard-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Epic showdown pits Ford rookie against GM vet in final laps of V8 Supercar race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/video-epic-showdown-pits-ford-rookie-against-gm-vet-in-final-la/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/video-epic-showdown-pits-ford-rookie-against-gm-vet-in-final-la/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/video-epic-showdown-pits-ford-rookie-against-gm-vet-in-final-la/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Showdown at the Gold Coast Corral - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Back in the Mad Men days, just about everyone was either a General Motors man or a Ford man. Cadillac or Lincoln. Buick or Mercury. Nowadays it may be as much about Toyota vs Honda, but the Detroit rivalry is far from dead. Arguably more than anywhere else, it's played out in Australia, where it's all about GM's Holden versus Ford...in the showrooms, on the streets and, perhaps most of all, on the race track.

While up in this hemisphere the Detroit automakers play out their rivalries in stock cars on super-speedways, Down Under it's all about the V8 Supercars series. And this past weekend's race at Surfer's Paradise was one for the ages.

This year's Gold Coast 600 drew a star-studded lineup of international racing superstars from around the world: names like Castroneves, Bourdais, Franchitti, Dixon, Salo and Villeneuve. But it was the seasoned series veterans racing against the fresh-faced newcomers who made for some of the most nail-biting action you're ever likely to see. It was all about defending champ Jamie Whincup in the Team Vodafone Holden Commodore against young Shane Van Gisbergen in the Stone Brothers/SP Tools Ford Falcon. Watch it all unfold down to the line in the video after the jump. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Sources: Motorsport.com, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Epic showdown pits Ford rookie against GM vet in final laps of V8 Supercar race

Video: Epic showdown pits Ford rookie against GM vet in final laps of V8 Supercar race originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiafordford falconfpvgold coastholdenholden commodorejamie whincupshane van gisbergensurfers paradisetouring carv8 supercarsWed, 27 Oct 2010 12:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19691319/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/27/video-epic-showdown-pits-ford-rookie-against-gm-vet-in-final-la/19691319/article-detail.xml 19691319 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/goldcoast-vidcap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/goldcoast-vidcap.jpg -1 2