V8 Supercar discussion thread

[Bob Vegana.]

They keep talking about Alex Rullo. At least he'd done Super3 (and won races in it), and a year of Super2 prior.

[Nafe]

Plenty of people have gone direct to Bathurst in their time.

Nothing in recent history is there?

[RP_Automotive]

Yeah plenty of experienced drivers have gone in before e.g. International drivers. Alex Rullo seems to be a 'comparison' but as mentioned he had already cut plenty of laps in Super2 & 3. Let's be honest, whilst we'd all like to see him go well, he's not exactly going to be fighting for a top 10 finish and may well stuff up others who are running an important race for their season. It would have been much more doable if they tried to field him in Super2 at Bathurst.

Checkout his profile: https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/nathan-herne/ Whilst he seems to be doing the right things as far as wins and podiums, there's a only a couple of years of proper circuit experience on there. Not sure if it shows karting etc?

[36]

Plenty of people have gone direct to Bathurst in their time.

Correct, especially in the days where the average punter could go and do the 1000. But, we've gone down the path where Bathurst is only for the elite with REC's etc which has resulted in rules like this. 25ish car grids of (in theory) only high quality teams etc etc. And it produces tight finishes without the leaders tripping over backmarkers. If you're staging an event for the best of the best etc, I don't think it's that unreasonable that as a minimum a driver should have raced a Supercar (of some level) somewhere before. (Or have an amazing cv if they haven't).

Last year we saw far more credentialed drivers without Supercar experience (Rossi & Hinchcliffe) struggle.

On the driver in question, he clearly has talent, and money. It shouldn't be all that hard for him to be on next years grid.

Personally, I prefer what the 1000 was when it was accessible to the average punter - when you could barrack for the Ashby/Reeds and the like, and the idea of one day racing at the 1000 was not a complete impossibility for the weekend racer. In many ways, the 6 hour is now that event.

[Nafe]

Yeah plenty of experienced drivers have gone in before e.g. International drivers. Alex Rullo seems to be a 'comparison' but as mentioned he had already cut plenty of laps in Super2 & 3. Let's be honest, whilst we'd all like to see him go well, he's not exactly going to be fighting for a top 10 finish and may well stuff up others who are running an important race for their season. It would have been much more doable if they tried to field him in Super2 at Bathurst.

Checkout his profile: https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/nathan-herne/ Whilst he seems to be doing the right things as far as wins and podiums, there's a only a couple of years of proper circuit experience on there. Not sure if it shows karting etc?

I phrased my question badly, no rookies like Herne in recent memory.
Rullo isn't even a comparison because it wasn't Bathurst where he was debuting, and he had more than a one-off drive.
Herne is a good steerer and a future talent, but I question his debut in a Supercar at Bathurst with minimal testing and experience. I feel for Everingham as he is a very quick steerer, good head on his shoulders, and has experience in the cars.

[RP_Automotive]

I phrased my question badly, no rookies like Herne in recent memory.
Rullo isn't even a comparison because it wasn't Bathurst where he was debuting, and he had more than a one-off drive.
Herne is a good steerer and a future talent, but I question his debut in a Supercar at Bathurst with minimal testing and experience. I feel for Everingham as he is a very quick steerer, good head on his shoulders, and has experience in the cars.

Totally agree.

36: The 1000 is definitely a pro event as you say now, and it produces a marvelous race pretty much every year. Bathurst 1000 is up there with events like the Indy 500 and LeMans, and you sure as hell can't just rock up to those events with cash in hand and a couple of years experience racing in minor categories and get a drive. Not being accessible to anyone else doesn't bother me personally, and IMO if the average punter want's to get involved then things like the 12hr, 6hr are readily accessible to 'amateurs' or up and coming drivers with cash and I think that's the place for them to give it a go. Even the 12hr is a relatively pro / gentleman racers only event (or was, maybe not anymore due to covid).

[bg0013]

jayden O jayden would be a good choice to take his spot, has the talent, but not the suitcase full of cash,

[FLI355]

And has the best nickname "the juice"

[Mr Ree]

Oh well, it was already a foregone conclusion, but Scotty Mac is the champion elect.

Its a huge shame that it cant go down to wire (mathematically) but on the upside, at least Bathurst will be an all out fight with no considerations for anybody but winning. Tim Slade will be breathing a huge sigh of relief right about now I think

[Its me]

Is Cam Waters the first to crack a skid this year?

[StupidFlanders]

I think so, I can’t recall any others. Penske don’t allow it from what I’ve seen, though Scotty did one after winning his first championship. Whincup doesn’t bother and Jizzburger hasn’t been winning. I guess they’re trying to save tyres and engines.

Was great to see Cam win today.

[Mr Ree]

Lots of tyre and engine conservation going on this year, so that explains most of it.

Cam did good

[leothedrummer]

Coming off a win there's a good chance Waters and Will Davison will be a real threat at Bathurst. Not long out from being a front runner solo driver Davison must be one of the top co-drivers at the moment IMO.

[TJ]

WAU is auctioning off Chaz's current car, to be given to the new owner after Bathurst... what happens if the car gets written off up there?

[sirhsv]

WAU is auctioning off Chaz's current car, to be given to the new owner after Bathurst... what happens if the car gets written off up there?

I’m sure there’s clauses in the contract of sale that deal with a situation like that. Maybe the buyer gets a replacement chassis or gets their money back in the case of a write off. Either way the car doesn’t come with an engine as it’s usually a leased item and teams building engines like to control where those engines are. I’m sure WAU would lease an engine to the buyer but it wouldn’t be their latest and greatest evolution.