Its a very good article and gives us an insight of what careers there are and hopefully it gives an idea of where to get a start in the motorsports industry.

I'm a bit concerned about the potential for different broadcasters for different events. I can see one time commentators just nuffing up names and stuff that drives us purists mad.

"The timing of our races works for them and especially in winter. Our races finish by four, and that is when their coverage of the NRL starts.

"They could go straight from one to the other."

Channel Nine have held talks with V8 Supercar officials as a $300 million television war is brewing between the three major free-to-air networks.

As a landmark Federal Court ruling threatens to eat into the media deals of the NRL and AFL, The Sunday Telegraph has learned that both Nine and Ten are considering bids to snare the V8 Supercars series from Seven.

It could cost $300 million over five years to claim the rights to televise Australia's fastest growing sport.

The deal with Seven, which was an estimated $168 million over six years, ends this year.

"Nine are definitely interested and we are talking to them," a well-placed V8 official said. "All of the major free-to-air networks are interested, as is pay TV."

And The Sunday Telegraph can also reveal that V8 Supercars would be willing to sell off its properties separately in a bid to grab more cash in the next television deal.

This could mean that a blue-chip event like Bathurst could be sold to one network, with another picking up the rest of the series.

"Everything is up for grabs," the insider said.

"We will consider any offers. We would look to sell all the rights, including digital, to just one network, or split up all the properties.

"It is all about getting the best deal."

Locked in a war to retain the NRL at an estimated cost of up to $1.4 billion over five years, Nine have expressed interest in also going after V8 Supercars. Both the current television rights deals for the NRL and V8 Supercars expire this year.

"Nine are interested because it is a good fit for them," the V8 insider said.

"The timing of our races works for them and especially in winter. Our races finish by four, and that is when their coverage of the NRL starts.

"They could go straight from one to the other."

As with the NRL and AFL, V8 Supercars could be affected by the court ruling which gave telecommunications company Optus the right to broadcast live sport with a short delay.

It is understood Telstra, which is at the centre of the dispute, already pays about $5 million a year for the digital rights to V8 Supercars.

New V8 Supercars CEO David Malone, former head of Premier Media Group, confirmed the widespread interest in the rights for his sport.

"We are very encouraged with the interest in the market," Malone said. "It is early days, but we have started the conversations. We believe we have a high-value product and have a tremendous ratings record. We also have the product and brand.

"We are very optimistic."

Malone also said he would support Telstra in their fight against Optus.

He agreed with the views of NRL boss David Gallop, who last week condemned the Federal Court ruling.

"I think this is only the beginning of this matter," Malone said.

Ferrari has launched its new car - the F2012 - via an online presentation from its base in Maranello.

The 2012 car is visually different from last year's car and the new McLaren MP4-27 in that it features an aggressive Caterham-style stepped nose. The car also has heavily sculpted sidepods and a double air-intake like the 2011 McLaren. Ferrari will hope that the ban on off-throttle blown diffusers will mean that the car is more competitive than in 2011, when the team only won one grand prix. Felipe Massa said that he hoped the risks taken in the car's design would help the team be successful.

"It really looks very aggressive," Massa said. "This is something that was part of my dreams ... I really trust the team and the new car."

The team was forced to cancel the official launch ceremony for the car at Maranello due to the weather, with heavy snow across much of Europe. As a result it is also unable to shake the car down at its Fiorano test track.

It's another one that looks more like it's just used "strongly rumoured" people in some seats rather than absolute fact, I haven't seen either Taz or Karl confirmed anywhere yet and yet they haven't got anyone in #33 which has now been announced.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to it until there's been an official announcement, surely most of the teams that haven't already will aim to get that out before the 11th....

1

Interesting how Karl Reindler is in the #11 and no #16 car

I think JC wont have Rockstar cause it said "Toll Holden Racing Team" above his name.

This Alexandre Premat signing is just bizarre... Why not grab free agents like Alex Davison and Karl Reindler? It's great to see an international driver but wtf at one I've never heard of

Another piece of the V8 Supercars 2012 driver puzzle has been locked in with the confirmation that Steve Owen will become a part of a four car Dick Johnson Racing operation with backing from V.I.P. Petfoods.

The petfood giant follows Owen across to DJR from Paul Morris Motorsport/Nemo Racing, which retains the Racing Entitlements contract under which the #49 Falcon will race.

The former two-time Fujitsu Series winner will also re-acquaint himself with Ford – the team having brought the former Jonathan Webb FG Falcon back into the DJR fold.

The union forms a renaissance with DJR as well – after Owen campaigned in the enduros with the Queensland team in 2008, partnering Warren Luff.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to compete in another full season of the main game series and I have to thank V.I.P. Petfoods for their continued support of my V8 Supercar career,” said Owen.

“DJR are excellent operators who produce a really strong car, so I’m excited about reforming our relationship and continuing that solid form.”

The remainder of the four-car Dick Johnson Racing operation will be made up of two Jim Beam Racing entered Falcons for Steven Johnson and new recruit Dean Fiore, and a Norton sponsored Falcon for James Moffat.

Former Audi sportscar and DTM pilot Alexandre Premat is set to join Garry Rogers Motorsport for the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship.

V8fan12 wrote:


They have only updated teams and drivers that have been confirmed, if you notice, Dean Fiore is still listed as Triple F Racing, James Moffat is still listed as Jim Beam Racing and Tim Slade is also listed as being in a Holden, pretty clear it isn't 100% up to date. Not sure how you work out that JC wont be sponsored by Rockstar??

#33 listed driver as TBA

Former Audi sportscar and DTM pilot Alexandre Premat is set to join Garry Rogers Motorsport for the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship.

Much speculation has surrounded the #33 Fujitsu Racing entry since erstwhile driver Lee Holdsworth announced a switch to IRWIN Racing last year.

Revealing his new signing to Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph, team owner Garry Rogers explained that he felt choosing a young driver to fill the seat was too risky.

“Some will see it as a shock and a major risk but I really think he (Premat) is the man for the job,” Rogers told the paper.

“My team has had a lot of success with our young driver program over the years but you no longer can afford the time and results that come with the inexperienced drivers.

“You need drivers who have a solid knowledge of the technical attributes of these cars and who are able to drive them very fast every lap.”

Hailing from Essonne, France, Premat is a previous winner of the Macau Grand Prix (2004), the A1 Grand Prix Series (2005/06) and the Le Mans Series (2008).

Premat spent four seasons in the DTM from 2007, recording a best race result of third and a best points finish of 10th.

He was eventually let go by Audi in unusual circumstances, having been found competing in the New York Marathon while supposedly recovering from a sizeable crash at the previous DTM event.

Premat spent 2011 driving sportscars for OAK Racing, and had pushed hard to be among BMW’s driver line-up for its return to the DTM this season.

Although Premat will become the first Frenchman to race V8 Supercars full-time, his home nation boasts two previous race winners in Yvan Muller (2005 Sandown 500) and Sebastien Bourdais (2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600 Race 21).

www.speedcafe.com/2012/02/02/frenchman-a...-premat-set-for-grm/

Teams and Drivers page released

www.v8supercars.com.au/championship/team...abid/93/default.aspx


Shows David Reynolds still at "Stratco Racing" (i.e. Kellys)

Johnathon Webb sponsor still is "Mother Energy Racing Team"

Seems like JC will not have Rockstar as sponsor

#30 listed team as TBA and driver as TBA

#33 listed driver as TBA

Steve Owen listed as #49's driver

#55 listed driver as TBA

Supercheap Auto number definitely is #66

#91 listed driver as TBA

David Russell in in talks for a drive with GRM

Tim Blanchard is also looking for a drive
http://mn.199300.mnews.com.au/default.aspx?iid=53965

You need drivers who have a solid knowledge of the technical attributes of these cars and who are able to drive them very fast every lap.

McLaren has launched its 2012 car - the MP4-27 - at the McLaren Technology Centre.

The car is an evolution of the MP4-26 which took six victories in 2011, with the team hoping to close the gap to Red Bull this year. The car features a different front end solution to the Caterham that was launched last week, with a gradual transition between the lower nose and chassis. The sculpted sidepods that were prominent on the MP4-26 have also been redesigned, while the car features a neater rear end than the 2011 car.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that the rear end was designed to try and compensate from the loss of downforce due to the banning the exhaust-blown diffuser.

"It's much trickier to drive as it is right now," Hamilton said. "But as we get closer to the season I'm sure we'll find where that downforce can come from."

The new car will be driven for the first time by Oliver Turvey during a straigh-line test ahead of its track debut on Tuesday at the first pre-season test in Jerez, with Jenson Button at the wheel for the first two days before handing over to Lewis Hamilton.

where is sitech on the windscreen?

Going by the side profile of the Lockwood car, is it just me or does everyone else see that it has a hint of the old Team Dynamik design?

here is fabians

Hankook is on every car as its the tyre supplier. Murphy has his Hankook signs on the roof. (Should this be in the nz v8 page not misc)

JC Ohope wrote:


That is a very good point mate, I hadn't noticed it myself. Maybe Bridgestone had signed a deal to sponsor Greg Murphy before the deal was made with Hankook. That would only be the reasonable explaination for it.

I'm a little surprised there really hasn't been more news about this. I mean, it's one of the longer running teams and it's basically closing down. Why hasn't there been more news on this?

Maybe Paul's comment above is the reason...

Someone pointed out something interesting on another Motorsport Forum, why is #51 running "Bridgestone" sponsorship when every other Supertourer seems to have Hankook in the same location?

I would assume Hankook is one of the compulsory sponsors as they provide the tyres for the class and every other 'stickered up' car has them there?