Driving down costs, increasing parity and revitalizing an aging class
are motivating factors behind a number of forth coming changes over the
next two years to the NZV8s. While the competition can only be
described as hot, the visual aspect has become decidedly second hand so
changes will certainly be welcomed by fans and spectators.
VEEGA CEO Mark Petch says that they are following a set plan to
introduce key changes and that it is important to note that “…it’s not
so much the technical side but the philosophy behind it which is to make
it affordable for our competitors.”
The first change happens now, after the Hamilton 400 competitors will
have to go with new brake rotors, and new front and rear calipers for
the coming season. A package that will be approximately a third of the
retail price.
The most radical change will be a whole new chassis known as the ‘Car of
Tomorrow’ (COT)- a one make standard chassis which will accept not only
the original Holden and Ford body panels but also designed to accept
Camry (Toyota) panels. The aim is to have around ten cars competing in
eighteen months time (the 2011-12 season).
This will be a major departure from the current chassis’s that have
propped up the class for a number of years. (The current NZV8 Ford
looks like a BA Falcon but is an AU with BA panels while the Holden
originates from a VT). It also opens the door for other car
manufacturers, particularly Toyota to become involved should they chose.
A tremendous change for fans is that the many parts of the chassis will
be the same as the new V8 Supercar ‘Car of the Future’ (COF) which is
currently being developed by Australia. Hence the spectator will see
cars from both series being the same.
Petch says that “The cars will look the same but they (V8Supercar) will
have more expensive components – (for example) we will stay with a live
axle where they will go with an independent rear suspension.”
Remembering that the philosophy behind it is to make it affordable for
competitors.
Already the Kiwis are ahead of the Australians in the development of
their COT. Currently a prototype is being built by Paul Ciprnich from
Pace Innovation in Australia. Renowned for his successful work with
Paul Morris Racing and Triple Eight Race Engineering Cipronech is also
developing the V8Supercar COF.
The plan is to have the prototype ready and running to be used as the pace car for the 2010-11 NZV8s season, starting at Pukekohe at the beginning of November this year. Not only will it have a season to be tested at each round but it will give all the teams, officials and spectators the chance to view this radical departure from the current models being raced.
“We don’t see that in eighteen months time that we are going to have a
field of twenty-three new generation cars. “ says Petch, “ We believe
that there will be a minimum of ten ,maybe high as 15 teams with these
cars on the grid (for the 201/12 season).
What will happen to the current models?
Initially they will take to the grid alongside the new COT. Similar to
the Battery Town Porsche field which has the latest 997 class competing
in the same races with the older 996 cars. Eventually there will be the
opportunity for the development of a tier two NZV8 class.
Such changes will no doubt be applauded by all stakeholders in NZ motorsport but it will be the fans who cheer the loudest.
