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: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com, 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......  

    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 greenflag@formulafrontrow.com, 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.....