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V8 Supercars Australia has confirmed it has placed the 30th licence on the market, and the governing body is confident there will be a full grid at the opening round of the 2009 Championship, the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 19-22.
V8 Supercars Australia Media Manager, Cole Hitchcock told radio programme, V8 Insiders, that the 30th licence - which was dormant in 2008 after being re-acquired by the governing organisation - was on the market, and that it would be sold well before the season started.
?My understanding is that (the 30th licence) is up for sale. It has been advertised and it is being negotiated by us (V8 Supercars Australia),? Hitchcock told the Internet podcast.
However, Hitchcock denied that selling the 30th licence meant V8 Supercars Australia had backed away from its stated goal of reducing the field to 28 cars.
?It still doesn't alter our goal of eventually getting down to 28 cars. (V8 Supercars Australia Chairman) Tony Cochrane himself said that is a goal that could potentially take some time,? Hitchcock explained.
?There are now some teams that are three or four-car teams, so we are reducing the number of teams, while not necessarily the number of cars on the grid.?
Hitchcock said V8 Supercars Australia was confident of sealing a deal to secure a new owner for the 30th licence.
?I don't think there is any question that all of the available licences will be sold (before the start of the season),? he said.
?In a supply and demand environment our licences are sought after which proves that our sport is very healthy.?
It is rumoured that Walkinshaw Performance is in negotiation for that 30th licence. If the sale were successful this would make four licences under the control of Walkinshaw Performance after it acquired the ex-PWR licence in late 2008. It is believed that Paul Dumbrell will use the ex-PWR licence this year.
With the second Bright licence acquired by Paul Cruickshank Racing and the ex-Ford Racing Stars licence going to Marcus Marshall, there is expected to be a full grid at the Clipsal 500.
Another question mark over licence custodianship is whether Larry Perkins will continue to run his own two licences, lease them to Kelly Racing for a mooted four-car outfit, or lease them to a totally different entity.
Hitchcock also took the opportunity on V8 Insiders to confirm recent reports that the 2009 race formats were far from set in concrete.
?We have made no secret that we are still looking at race formats and that there was always a possibility that we could change things,? he said.
?We need to keep the interest in the sport and to revitalise it. The way that we do that is to make change, but it is not change just for the sake of change ? we have had a lot of criticism in the past 12 months about the lack of action and the lack of passing. That comes from the media and the fans, so we have reacted to that.?
Hitchcock said that there would already be a number of changes to the entertainment mix in 2009, including the introduction of Ethanol fuel - which has a much higher consumption rate - and a two compound tyre system.
?With all of that happening it is the perfect time for us to make some changes (to the race formats) to address what the fans want,? he said.
Hitchcock refused to be drawn on recent rumours that Nissan would take over the safety car contract that was recently vacated by Chrysler.
Author:Allan Edwards
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright
V8 Supercars Australia Media Manager, Cole Hitchcock told radio programme, V8 Insiders, that the 30th licence - which was dormant in 2008 after being re-acquired by the governing organisation - was on the market, and that it would be sold well before the season started.
?My understanding is that (the 30th licence) is up for sale. It has been advertised and it is being negotiated by us (V8 Supercars Australia),? Hitchcock told the Internet podcast.
However, Hitchcock denied that selling the 30th licence meant V8 Supercars Australia had backed away from its stated goal of reducing the field to 28 cars.
?It still doesn't alter our goal of eventually getting down to 28 cars. (V8 Supercars Australia Chairman) Tony Cochrane himself said that is a goal that could potentially take some time,? Hitchcock explained.
?There are now some teams that are three or four-car teams, so we are reducing the number of teams, while not necessarily the number of cars on the grid.?
Hitchcock said V8 Supercars Australia was confident of sealing a deal to secure a new owner for the 30th licence.
?I don't think there is any question that all of the available licences will be sold (before the start of the season),? he said.
?In a supply and demand environment our licences are sought after which proves that our sport is very healthy.?
It is rumoured that Walkinshaw Performance is in negotiation for that 30th licence. If the sale were successful this would make four licences under the control of Walkinshaw Performance after it acquired the ex-PWR licence in late 2008. It is believed that Paul Dumbrell will use the ex-PWR licence this year.
With the second Bright licence acquired by Paul Cruickshank Racing and the ex-Ford Racing Stars licence going to Marcus Marshall, there is expected to be a full grid at the Clipsal 500.
Another question mark over licence custodianship is whether Larry Perkins will continue to run his own two licences, lease them to Kelly Racing for a mooted four-car outfit, or lease them to a totally different entity.
Hitchcock also took the opportunity on V8 Insiders to confirm recent reports that the 2009 race formats were far from set in concrete.
?We have made no secret that we are still looking at race formats and that there was always a possibility that we could change things,? he said.
?We need to keep the interest in the sport and to revitalise it. The way that we do that is to make change, but it is not change just for the sake of change ? we have had a lot of criticism in the past 12 months about the lack of action and the lack of passing. That comes from the media and the fans, so we have reacted to that.?
Hitchcock said that there would already be a number of changes to the entertainment mix in 2009, including the introduction of Ethanol fuel - which has a much higher consumption rate - and a two compound tyre system.
?With all of that happening it is the perfect time for us to make some changes (to the race formats) to address what the fans want,? he said.
Hitchcock refused to be drawn on recent rumours that Nissan would take over the safety car contract that was recently vacated by Chrysler.
Author:Allan Edwards
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright
