So Perez is finally let go by Red Bull. Word is Lawson will take his seat.
With Red Bull not being as dominant as before, it may remain a poisoned chalice. Let's hope not for Liam's sake.

In the off-season lull, I've turned back to a few podcasts, namely Rusty's Garage and now Apex Hunters.

Anyone listened to the most recent with the politician Dr Ryan Story AM?
Great insights, and whilst he's still a little awkward, he's miles more likeable than he comes across on TV.

Generally, it's a little 'we could do so much better if they listened to us' preachy style against Supercars, but often a good listen. Great job to Scott and Elliot for offering their thoughts.

I'm not the biggest fan of the AVL/Speedcafe stuff, it feels really serious and then overly jokey.

The Supercars Drivers one isn't so bad either, less controversial.
Seems we can only ever have 1-2 at a time, with Enforcer and the Dude, Balls and Bumpers and Below the Bonnet now well dead and buried.

Any others out there worth a listen - I know Stevie J does one.

It seems wherever Betty goes, fireworks follow. It's fairly humourous what's happening over at Auto Action.
People are now commenting Boost Mobile logo's in every Facebook post since their stoush with Peter Adderton.

I do find it quite odd that a publisher/journalist entity would stoop so low to make personal comments, via Facebook no less. Certainly losing credibility against other news sources.
Not to mention the clear conflict of interest with Erebus - especially while we live in the world of 'Fake News.'

Funny thing is, how social media works, the Auto Action page would be getting fed onto far more peoples screens due to the large interactions with their posts... something Peter Adderton knows all about!

So we pick up an extra round (the paperclip) for 2025. Look it's not great, but it's progress.
I'm feeling really optimistic about the series since Toyota has joined.

We're two or so rounds off where we need to be. Phillip Island is always great, but often doesn't produce the racing.
Sonic can probably tell us more, but Winton is a fans track, should probably be on there, but again often doesn't produce good racing.

I'm reserved on the Singapore talks. I think I'd prefer a second weekend in NZ.



https://speedcafe.com/expanded-2025-supercars-calendar-revealed/

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-finals-system-2025-championship-adelaide-500/

Feels really, really gimmicky.

Are Supercars being sucked into this NASCAR revival?
SVG seems to have drawn the eye of far more Australian fans to NASCAR and 'how good it is.'
My only question is are all these Facebook punters actually watching all the races at 9am on a Monday or just watching the crash highlights and SVG teaching them how to turn right?

It would likely lead to teams focussing on a certain type of car, to be really good over those specific final circuits. It would be more about point and squirt and riding the bumps (GC, Sandown, Adelaide) than fast and flowy.

This is deserving of it's own thread. From 2026 WAU will be racing Toyota Supra's.

Few things to breakdown.

Supercars and WAU have got a damn good business department to bring Toyota into the fold. Considering the parity/bad press they've received lately, they've sold the dream, and Toyota aren't one to be fleeced!

I'd assume we have another run in the wind tunnel and transient dyno? From Supercars pocket, or is it the full responsibility of the manufacturer/homologation team? The Supra is a very different shape to the others.
The 2UR-GSE has Yamaha developed heads from factory, from memory the Volvo donk was also heavily developed with Yamaha.

What does this mean for the future? Toyota is in. Does BMW, Honda, Audi... Nissan now all have a look?
A massive shot in the arm. Supercars can't squander this, the Supra's need to be competitive from day one for others to take the series seriously.

And already talks that Toyota are looking for a second team, logically, 4 cars are better than 2.
Surely the Grove's are hands down the best choice? It'd be nice if it were a Chev team, just to get the balance of manufacturers right...
(I'm assuming 888 and DJR aren't an option, and Tickford feel far too entwined with Ford, to move and sit under WAU).

Will MCM make the grid?
https://speedcafe.com/privateer-wildcards-battle-to-make-sandown-500-grid/

This year will be 10 years since I attended the event. Well worth it for anyone thinking about it!

McLaughlin sits on the pole, leading an all Penske top 3. Power 2nd and Newgarden 3rd.

No it isn't April Fools.
Kostecki will return for NZ.

https://www.supercars.com/news/kostecki-set-to-make-racing-return?fbclid=IwAR00PK_Ye0gJwjCy15F3PV1xNlpcEQ-s9HpuLIoz3A5n0BYWvreqgD3xXBs

Some older V8 Central residents would remember back in 2010 or so, REM started a topic on the chances of the Blue sides Championship.
Back then it was Frosty and Courtney (2) against Whincup, Lowndes and either Tander/Davo (3).
...we all know how that ended .

It was shaping up to be a similar year this year, with Kostecki, Brown and Feeney against Chaz and Waters.
Seems to be 2 on 2 now, with Kostecki an early out. I wouldn't count on him a round (at least) down.
I'd even go as far to say, that it may still be 2 on 3, with AdP potentially joining the list.

Assuming (...yeah) that we're all even, I think Chaz and Waters are serious contenders. Waters particularly had a hot finish to the year. He'd be my favourite, being a betting man.
Brown still feels a little mistake prone. They do say it's better to be fast and figure out the crashes, than slow and straight.
Feeney is about a year away I think. He'll be taking wins for sure though.

AdP as a smokey. There's no argument that DJR have been on a slide since Penske left, but they do have the pieces and the driver. Davo just lacks that X-factor.

Heimgartner will lead BJR, but it'll be hot and cold. Maybe a win?

Grove's? Payne was seriously fast and was probably the form driver for the back half of the year. The Bend onwards certainly opened some eyes. Stanaway a big unknown.

So who have we got as our favourites?

The Bathurst 12HR kicks off this Championship (and the Intercontinental).

The opening scenes and sunrise of the 12HR are always fantastic.
...then the rain came. Didn't catch too many out. The Bimmer got caught doing a Whincup/Perkins/Ambrose into the cutting.

Lapped traffic really eased the pressure for the Porsche/Campbell. But that's endurance racing.
Well done to the winners, and basically everyone who finished. The top 8 were on the lead lap, and within earshot of winning.

Rossi was impressive - would he be the best to come from (a highly successful) 2 wheels to 4?
Jaxon Evans was great too. Ended up costing his team a podium, but if a gaps is there... you know the rest.

I enjoyed the race for the segments that I watched.

More races to come at PI, Tailem Bend, Ipswich, SMP and back to Bathurst again (which just lost their World TCR main card for that weekend).

Thanks for the topic move, LG .

Jett and Mason moving up. Kai Allen sticks around, as does Murray and Bates.
https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/kelly-graduates-into-23-car-bathurst-super2-field/

AIM has quite the engineering team too, with Erik Pender and Adam de Borre.

Jett's Mustang:

https://speedcafe.com/jett-johnson-super2-livery-revealed/

Kelly Racing's Mustangs:

https://speedcafe.com/kelly-racing-steps-up-supercars-return/

---

Coke still has some Motorsport budget:

https://speedcafe.com/coke-sponsorship-for-mcleod-super2-car/

And in a PremiAir run car...

Lets be real. This Championship is Kostecki's, unless he pulls a DNF for one of the races.
Looking back, we haven't had someone rise this quickly to Championship winning material for 20 years.

Whincup took 5 seasons to win his first.
McLaughlin 6
SVG 9.5
Winterbottom 12
Courtney 5
Tander 9.5
Kelly 5
Ingall 10

Back to 2003, Ambrose won his first title in 3 seasons. Kostecki is about to match that.

'The Kid' Lowndes obvoiusly had the dream start with a win in his first full-time season. And the early days of the ATCC startup obviously saw multiple winners on their first try - McKay, Pitt, Jane.
Gets harder to track beyond that as entrants would only attend certain races throughout the year, a 'full-time' season wasn't really a thing.

Is Kostecki going to be a mainstay at the top? Despite the season we've had, Erebus have beaten 888 and SVG on merit.
Do we see Erebus keeping 888 down ala Penske?

This is a bit of an "if, buts and maybe's" thread, but how about ADP's timing of moving to DJR.

Finishing behind 888 and Erebus got me thinking.

At the time he was touted as the Whincup replacement. He leaves Erebus to goto DJR.
Both the team that he was looking at going to (888), and his current team (at the time, Erebus) will have won all 3 Championships and 2/3 Bathurst's along with the majority of races since.

I really thought that one weekend that he DOMINATED at SMP was a sign of things to come for both he and DJR post the Penske break up.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/19/exclusive-ford-commits-amid-parity-turmoil/

Contrary to many readings in the Speedcafe and Facebook comments, Ford will stick around for at least another year. Good.

Supercars need to sort their stuff out, and keep them beyond this.

SVG has walled it in their pre-enduro test.


Loose line fitting on the caliper the reason: https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/05/dutton-outlines-cause-of-van-gisbergen-crash/

Fixed at the track and Stanaway got some laps in at the end.

Brodie with the pole and the win.
9 Mustang's in the top 15 and probably had a proper shot at the win had Randle and Mostert not battled for 2nd for so long.

Supercars already showing their inconsistency with Waters tapping SVG around the rear wheel and not needing to redress.
Nonetheless SVG didn't have pace for him.

Waters also unhappy with the team call. "Won't do it again." The next SVG? - it's good to see contrasting the bromance over at Erebus.

A message from Detroit no doubt.
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/08/03/ford-pulls-supercars-safety-car-and-advertising-support/

No spoilers needed .

Good to be back, let's chat Darwin. Great looking cars, surprise results. Was awesome to see Frosty crack a win!
Parity needs adjusting, even comments that it's aero as well now.

Feeney is starting to seem like a dark horse for the title. There's a bit of Rick Kelly about him, in terms of fast and consistent. SVG, Brown and Kostecki all have their dramas and he just plugs away.

Looks like Mostert is getting a crack at Spa with Kenny Habul's Merc:
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/05/25/mostert-tests-with-bathurst-12-hour-winner-at-spa/

He's picked up some trophies in the Bimmer, no reason he can't perform here. What an awesome opportunity, Spa.