V8 Supercar Championship Wide Open As The Big Names Descend Down Under.

    What a fantastic Bathurst 1000 last weekend at the iconic Mt Panorama Circuit. Congratulations to winners Team Vodafone and their drivers Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell. Wasn't it a great strategy to place championship leader Whincup in the car fairly early on when the V8 Supercar field was largely comprised of co-drivers? Kudos should also be awarded to Bottle-O Racing's David Reynolds and Dean Canto. It was Reynolds' first V8 Supercar podium and he very nearly won, but had to be content with sniffing Whincup's exhaust fumes home for second. Looking ominous in third was Team Vodafone's Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff. 
    Is the 2012 V8 Supercar Championship now a three horse race? Whincup, Lowndes and Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom are on 2772, 2611 and 2584 points respectively. The title's anyone's guess. Which leads us to next weekend's Gold Coast 600. The variable factor is the inclusion of international drivers as co-drivers. Big names with international pedigree in categories such as F1, Indy, British Touring Cars, Porsche Supercup include Boudais, Liuzzi, Andretti, Brabham, Salo, Heidfeld, Bleekemolen, Said and Pagenaud; join the field to thrash a V8 Supercar around the streets of Surfers Paradise. It's going to be awesome.
    V8 Supercars as a series is certainly on the up. Complementing Formula One at this year's Abu Dhabi GP, off to Austin, Texas next May at the new Circuit Of The Americas will definitely raise brand awareness internationally. The horizon looks endless. 
    But will the "brand" be conceived differently next year with the arrival of Mercedes in the form of Erebus Motorsport with long time Ford team Stone Brothers Racing, and Nissan replacing Holden at Kelly Racing? Under the Car Of The Future regulations new manufacturers are encouraged to join the field. The traditional Ford vs Holden becomes Ford vs Holden vs Mercedes vs Nissan vs ??? in 2013 and beyond. In it's endeavours to reach fair wider global audiences and therefore attracting more sponsors, race teams and fans; are V8 Supercars at risk of losing some local fans who feel that tradition has been dispensed with? Will the legendary Bathurst 1000 take on new appeal? Will traditional fans embrace V8 Supercar's future and continue to support what is an extremely well presented, professional sport? Let us know what you think. Send formulafrontrow.com an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.