Recently V8 Supercar drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have suggested that they would love to compete in more events, including international ones, to promote the racing brand domestically and abroad. They've also suggested that this would help bring V8 Supercars to the forefront of the fans minds, as currently there is too much time between events.
    Well in 2013 V8 Supercars is off to Austin, Texas, to the newly constructed Circuit Of The Americas. There is apparently rumoured interest from the Phillipines and Mexico as well. Anyway, the circuit in Austin should not only be accommodating to great racing for Formula One, but V8 Supercars as well. Fast flowing nature with big undulations and a couple of big braking points. Should be awesome.
    However, 2013 sees the Sydney 500 staged around the narrow Homebush street circuit, moving to a mid-season slot instead of winding up the series in December. The contract for the event expires in 2013 and the current word is that the contract will not be renewed.
    Is the Sydney 500 as an event in jeopardy of being consigned to history after 2013? Would you like to see it remain on the calender? What event do you think would be a fitting finale to the V8 Supercar series? Send us an email at: [email protected] or simply leave a comment.
    Welcome to Eastern Creek, back to stage V8 Supercars once again this August. Circuit upgrades are ongoing and formulafrontrow.com cannot wait to attend the event at the renamed Sydney Motorsport Park.
      

    As Australians we love seeing Mark Webber backflipping with delight into the swimming pool on top of the Red Bull Energy Station in Monaco, because it means he and Red Bull Racing have secured another impressive Formula One victory around the intimidating streets of Monte Carlo.
    Since Formula One fired up in 1950, only eleven other drivers have won Monaco more than once. Of the modern era there are only three; Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and David Coulthard. Now Mark Webber can join a list of multiple Monaco winners that includes iconic names like Fangio, Moss, Stewart and Senna.
    With confidence and momentum in the Webber camp undoubtedly on the rise, formulafrontrow.com would like to know if Mark Webber is one contender for the 2012 crown that the other F1 drivers and teams should be very nervous about? Will he feel like swimming after the season's ending race at Interlagos? Send us an email at: [email protected] or simply leave a comment. More to the point, how long do you think the Red Bull party lasted in Monaco?

    What a welcome sight it was to have Williams back on the top step of a Formula One podium last weekend in Spain. Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado drove an aggressive and mature race at Catalunya to secure Williams their first victory since Juan Pablo Montoya won in Brazil, 2004. Williams' recent restructuring of technical staff under the direction of Mike Coughlan and Mark Gillan is starting to transfer to better on- track results. What a great way to celebrate team founder, boss and gentleman, Sir Frank Williams' 70th birthday. Question is, will Bruno Senna step up and match or even beat his Williams team mate?
    However, more importantly, did Ferrari miss their chance of victory in Spain? At the second round of pit stops, Maldonado, running second, pitted before then leader, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Curiously, Ferrari did not cover the Williams at the next lap and subsequently got bundled up behind backmarker Charles Pic in the Marussia, losing a substantial amount of time, and thus the lead. With the undercut successful, Maldonado was able to control the race and see off an Alonso counterattack to score his maiden victory.
    Why did Ferrari wait to box Fernando Alonso? With the 2012 season totally unpredictable and therefore race winning points at a premium, did Ferrari make a critical error and squander valuable points that could have serious championship connotations?
    formulafrontrow.com would like to know what you think. Send us an email at: [email protected] or simply leave a comment.
    Monaco's next....  

    In Formula One the teams always say for a true form guide, wait until we get to Europe. With the first four flyaway races consigned to history and testing completed this week at Mugello, the picture is excitingly not clear. No doubt the teams have been testing new components this week with upgrades in mind for next week's Spanish Grand Prix. Now they have the bonus of evaluating their cars at their respective factories between races now that the European season is starting.
    For the first time since 1983, the first four races revealed four different winners from four different constructors. Congratulations to Nico Rosberg fulfilling his potential with a sensational maiden victory after a mesmerising qualifying lap in China. It was also his Mercedes team's first victory as a works team since 1955.
    With Catalunya opening the European season, followed closely by Monaco, it's certainly not unfathomable to have six different winners six races into the 2012 season.
    But with car development ramping up as the European races progress, it's not uncommon for the serious championship contenders to start to gap the field.
    So, will the 2012 Formula One season continue to be as unpredictable as it has been to date? Or will we start to see a definitive form guide emerge? Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: [email protected], or simply leave a comment.
    Monaco is a race that formulafrontrow.com waits for with great anticipation. The cars have long since outgrown the circuit. The race goes close to the 2 hour limit. The walls are close and unforgiving, and the driver can really make a difference. It's the race they all want to win, and every F1 fan wants to watch. Special...   

    The recent Easter period saw the staging of the Bathurst Motor Festival at Australia's iconic Mt Panorama circuit. Categories featured included Historic Touring Cars, HQ Holdens, Production Sports Cars, Aussie Racing Cars, and Australia's fastest racing cars, Formula 3. It was a free event with a requested donation to Legacy, a fantastic charity who help the families of war veterans and receive no government assistance.
    Formula 3 is a worldwide category and Mt Panorama is globally recognised as one of the world's great motorsport challenges that has enticed overseas drivers to various events for decades. Formula 3 hadn't raced across "The Mountain" for some 30-odd years. It was impressive to witness these cars gripped up breezing across the top, then plunging down the Esses and the Dipper. Not surprisingly, the lap record was broken that weekend.
    But were the European and Japanese F3 teams keeping an eye on proceedings? Organisers have made no secret that they would love to welcome them and any other overseas F3 team to expand the grid and promote the Bathurst Motor Festival as a stand alone international F3 event rivalling the Macau F3. formulafrontrow.com believes one avenue of promotion would be for Formula 3 to push to rejoin the support bill for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. The cars could then carry common badging (similar to tyre supplier badging) promoting the Bathurst Motor Festival. This would raise brand and event awareness through TV and online exposure.
    Let us know what you think. Leave a comment or send us an email at: [email protected]. A thoroughly enjoyable Bathurst Motor Festival. See you at next year's event.....  

    With two rounds and a non-championship round completed, Australia's V8 Supercars is shaping up to be one stellar season. It may only be early days in the 2012 championship, but already it's apparent that defending champion Jamie Whincup and Team Vodafone will have their hands full retaining the title, as a number of Ford teams seem very determined to put the top Holden team under siege.
    SP Tools Racing's Shane van Gisbergen, Lucky 7 Racing's Tim Slade, Irwin Racing's Lee Holdsworth are all ultra competitive, and any one of them could walk away with the title come December. Not to mention Ford Performance Racing and their highly rated drivers Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom seem more than capable of mounting a sustained challenge for the title, and at this stage of the season, are the team to beat.
    On the Holden flipside, Whincup and his consistently fast team mate Craig Lowndes seem to be driving better than ever and will relish the challenges this season thrusts upon them. But will the other Holden teams step up? Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander is quietly accumulating points, but his vastly experienced team mate James Courtney, undoubtedly hasn't garnered the points he desires.
    Will HRT be able to challenge for wins, and therefore the championship? More to the point, are Jamie Whincup and Team Vodafone able to sustain their position in the pecking order, whilst riding out the prolonged storm from the Ford teams? Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: [email protected], or simply leave a comment.
    formulafrontrow.com believes the title won't be decided until the chequered flag has dropped after the last race of the season at the Sydney 500. V8 Supercars is one of the most closely fought out motorsport series in the world. At the recent round at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, there was a mere second covering all 28 cars on the grid. It'll be fascinating to see how it plays out......  

    Wow! Can't believe it's virtually race day in Malaysia already, and formulafrontrow.com has just caught our breath from a fantastic season opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Congratulations to Jenson Button and the McLaren team in securing a scintillating victory. In what was a mesmerising race with sterling drives and tales of woe up and down the pitlane, Jenson Button and McLaren's control of the race was awe-inspiring. In true Albert Park fashion, there was the familiar Safety Car intervention. However, they kept their composure, and when racing resumed, quickly scurried to safety outside the DRS detection point, thus eliminating any counterattack. Maintaining a race winning gap, it was truly a dominant display.
    Inevitably there was contact in Turn 1 when the lights went out, of which the two Australians were involved in. Forced to pit and rejoining in last place, Daniel Ricciardo hauled his pulling to one side Toro Rosso into the points in what was his Albert Park racing debut. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber made a sluggish start and subsequently got bullied into Turn 1, but still achieved his best Australian Grand Prix result to date with 4th place. Typical feisty drives from the two Aussies.
    The question we'd like to raise concerns safety. The releasing of lapped cars behind the Safety Car to rejoin at the back of the pack sounds good in theory, but it certainly looked ugly in the race with the chance of contact seemingly high with leading cars weaving to warm their tyres. Communication between the pit wall and the drivers needs to be quick and precise. Also, the newly introduced electronically operated LED light flag marshals, whilst undoubtedly provide immeasurable assistance to drivers and marshals alike, seemed to be mounted a lot lower on the fencing this year. Surely they could be fixed on the top of the fencing and angled down? They are extremely bright, would still be in the driver's peripheral vision and would certainly not protrude.
    Lastly, with the BBC only showing 10 races live, of which Australia was not one, and the rest delayed extended highlights, surely this finally puts to bed the argument about the time difference and the Australian Grand Prix's starting time. Those that want to watch all the races live can, on Sky Sports. Let us know what you think. Email us at [email protected] or simply leave a comment.
    The atmosphere at the circuit was electric tinged with uncertain anticipation. Melbourne looks spectacular on TV. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation should be highly commended for producing another stunning event and showcasing Australia to the rest of the world.
    Thanks Melbourne. Can't wait for 2013....    

    As the 2012 Formula One season opener in Melbourne looms and winter pre-season testing revealing little, can't help but wonder what will be this year's must have component.
    In 2009, in an effort to slow the cars and improve racing, the cars were stripped of numerous aerodynamic appendages. The F1 teams countered the lack of aero grip by exploiting a rule ambiguity that allowed a double diffuser. In 2010, the double diffuser was outlawed, but this time the teams came up with the F-duct. This was deemed a moveable aerodynamic device and subsequently banned for 2011. Last season, we had hot and cold exhaust gas blown rear diffusers, whereas exhaust gases were still feeding the rear diffuser even when the driver was off the throttle. Now they've been banned for 2012, with the governing body decreeing a common position for exhaust exits.
    Has the governing body finally achieved what they endeavoured to do in 2009, or will the teams come up with a must have component for 2012? Send us an email at [email protected] or simply leave a comment.
    Melbourne is a fantastic location to start the Formula One season and showcase all Down Under has to offer to the world. We truly love our sport in Australia, and wholeheartedly embrace Formula One as the world's premier motorsport. 
    formulafrontrow.com is heading down early with Nikons in tow to soak up all the atmosphere. Our next post will display images from the 2012 Formula One Australian Grand Prix. See you in Melbourne........

    Australia's premier motorsport category, V8 Supercars, are preparing to commence another season with their prestigious Clipsal 500 at the unforgiving Adelaide street circuit. Holden vs Ford. Red vs Blue. Bragging rights up for grabs again. Fantastic!
    However, 2013 sees Japanese giant Nissan rejoining the fray with Kelly Racing. There are also whispers that Chrysler are considering entering V8 Supercars as well.
    Will the sport benefit from other manufacturers entering? Some people will say that the very foundations have been rocked, and the series just doesn't have the same flavour or feel. Others will say that it's purely a marketing exercise to raise brand awareness in the interest of selling more road cars. Others will argue that it will bring in more fans, sponsors and maybe competitors. Others will say that it is a case of back to the future, reminding them of the 80s and 90s when the touring car grid had numerous combatants. Who will ever forget Jim Richards and Mark Skaife being "booed" in 1992 when they won the Bathurst 1000 in a Nissan?
    V8 Supercars are purpose built racing cars, but that takes on a new dimension with the impending introduction next year of the Car Of The Future. Numerous standardised components including same chassis, brakes, driver position, engine position, fuel cell, drive shaft, 18'' wheels and tyres. About the only things different are the body panels (which would translate to different aero characteristics), the engine, and of course badges. This is all designed to reduce costs across the board.
    So, with the arrival of a new manufacturer/s and the introduction of the Car Of The Future, will this give V8 Supercars a completely new flavour or feel? Or will it feel like back to the future? Send us an email at [email protected], or simply leave a comment.
    For formulafrontrow.com we know the racing will be just has intense and frenetic. Spicing it up with the use of two different tyre compounds will reveal intriguing race strategies. Also, the V8 Supercar Development Series welcome Dunlop as their title sponsor. Who will be the next young superstar to emerge from this highly competitive series?
    A big year looms. Roll the transporters.....
    

    With their 2012 challengers revealed, winter pre-season testing in full swing, it's merely a blink of an eye before the world's Formula One teams descend Down Under to Melbourne's picturesque Albert Park to recommence hostilities.
    And what a mouth-watering prospect this season beckons to be. It'll be fascinating to see who will be crowned 2012 F1 World Champion. An unprecedented six world champions line up on the grid.
    Will seven-time champion Michael Schumacher continue to improve and once again challenge for wins? Or will he be outscored again by his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg, who incidently is still hungry for his first win? 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen returns to an F1 cockpit after a two year sabbatical, but will he and his newly renamed Lotus team have the package to fight for the title? Will double world champion Fernando Alonso and his beloved Ferrari team elevate themselves to where they think they rightfully belong; number one? Not to mention it's a make or break year for his Ferrari team mate, Felipe Massa. The McLaren partnership of 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and 2009 champion Jenson Button is a hugely competitive one. Will their seemingly amicable working relationship still be evident if they're both going for the title by the time the season washes up in Brazil? Will Bruno Senna help propel the illustrious Williams team back to the sharp end? What about the exciting pairing of Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg at the ever improving Force India? Two Australians on the grid is something formulafrontrow.com is extremely excited about. Will Daniel Ricciardo be a regular point scorer for Scuderia Toro Rosso? Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber still has a thirst for the title, but can he quench it?
    All this begs the question. Can 2010 and 2011 world champion and Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel do what only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have done? That is, win three Formula One world championships in succession? 
    Mouth watering isn't it? Lights out. Let's race!