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Driver and sponsor changes have been done and V8 Supercar teams are now settling down for the start of the 2009 Championship in Adelaide this weekend.
But that doesn’t mean the Clipsal 500, which runs from March 19-22, is going to be easy for anyone.
Turn eight has been changed at the Adelaide Park track to force drivers to slow down, compulsory pit stops have been abolished, most Ford drivers have a new FG Falcon to drive and the Top 10 Shootout is back, but the change that has got everyone talking is the introduction of the E85 fuel.
The Toll Holden Racing Team (HRT) Commodores feature logos promoting E85 – which is a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent fossil fuel – along with Ecoline, General Motors’ brand of vehicles that use alternative fuels or fuel saving technology.
“The fuel changes are going to be a big talking point for the Clipsal races, while the E85 program is important to Holden,” HRT driver Garth Tander said.
“Based on what we’ve been seeing, the fuel windows will be a lot tighter and that’s going to make the races far more interesting; it’ll also give us an indication of who’s on top of their E85 program more than others.”
Ford rival Steve Richards from Ford Performance Racing noticed only one real difference at a recent test day.
“With the ethanol, the only difference I could notice was we weren’t reaching the limiter at the same spots as last year,” he explained.
“That could be caused by something else, but if it is the fuel it would be quite a significant change.”
Richards believes a slight economy improvement this year could offer teams an advantage of up to four seconds during fuel stops, which could convert to race wins.
Holden will feature rookies in two of its Commodores this year, with Tim Slade lining up for Supercheap Auto Racing and David Reynolds for Bundaberg Red Racing.
Jack Perkins (Kelly Racing), Alex Davison (Stone Brothers Racing) and Jason Bargwanna (Sprint Gas Racing) all re-enter the category in 2008 while a number of drivers switched teams at the end of 2008.
One of those is new HRT driver Will Davison, who is confident of a successful 2009 after defecting from Jim Beam Racing.
“I’m still going to be learning in the first part of the year, but I think we should hit the ground running pretty well,” he said.
“We’re only going to get stronger the further we get into the Championship, whether we win Clipsal or not.”
Davison said it was a big ask, but he believes he could take out the Clipsal 500.
“The team’s more than capable of winning Clipsal,” he said.
“Whether I can get that done or not I don’t know but who knows?
“I’d love to think we’re going to be very competitive there; I think we will be.”
The Clipsal 500 played host to 291,000 spectators in 2008 and won the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for the best Major Festival and Event for the fourth time.
Nightly concerts will take place at this year’s event, with the Living End playing on Thursday, The Presets and Pete Murray on Friday, Leigh Kernaghan on Saturday and Wolfmother on Sunday.
V8 Supercars Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Levick, said the Clipsal 500 was a world-class event that few others could match.
“For more than a decade Adelaide has set the mark for any event, sporting or otherwise, in this country,” Levick enthused.
“We are delighted to be partners in this great event.
“On the track, Adelaide is one of the most testing circuits for our drivers who show incredible courage battling searing heat and intense racing for more than two hours each day.
“Adelaide has in the past thrown up some of the best, edge of your seat, racing in the world.”
Did I mention that B and I will be there to see all this ?????
But that doesn’t mean the Clipsal 500, which runs from March 19-22, is going to be easy for anyone.
Turn eight has been changed at the Adelaide Park track to force drivers to slow down, compulsory pit stops have been abolished, most Ford drivers have a new FG Falcon to drive and the Top 10 Shootout is back, but the change that has got everyone talking is the introduction of the E85 fuel.
The Toll Holden Racing Team (HRT) Commodores feature logos promoting E85 – which is a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent fossil fuel – along with Ecoline, General Motors’ brand of vehicles that use alternative fuels or fuel saving technology.
“The fuel changes are going to be a big talking point for the Clipsal races, while the E85 program is important to Holden,” HRT driver Garth Tander said.
“Based on what we’ve been seeing, the fuel windows will be a lot tighter and that’s going to make the races far more interesting; it’ll also give us an indication of who’s on top of their E85 program more than others.”
Ford rival Steve Richards from Ford Performance Racing noticed only one real difference at a recent test day.
“With the ethanol, the only difference I could notice was we weren’t reaching the limiter at the same spots as last year,” he explained.
“That could be caused by something else, but if it is the fuel it would be quite a significant change.”
Richards believes a slight economy improvement this year could offer teams an advantage of up to four seconds during fuel stops, which could convert to race wins.
Holden will feature rookies in two of its Commodores this year, with Tim Slade lining up for Supercheap Auto Racing and David Reynolds for Bundaberg Red Racing.
Jack Perkins (Kelly Racing), Alex Davison (Stone Brothers Racing) and Jason Bargwanna (Sprint Gas Racing) all re-enter the category in 2008 while a number of drivers switched teams at the end of 2008.
One of those is new HRT driver Will Davison, who is confident of a successful 2009 after defecting from Jim Beam Racing.
“I’m still going to be learning in the first part of the year, but I think we should hit the ground running pretty well,” he said.
“We’re only going to get stronger the further we get into the Championship, whether we win Clipsal or not.”
Davison said it was a big ask, but he believes he could take out the Clipsal 500.
“The team’s more than capable of winning Clipsal,” he said.
“Whether I can get that done or not I don’t know but who knows?
“I’d love to think we’re going to be very competitive there; I think we will be.”
The Clipsal 500 played host to 291,000 spectators in 2008 and won the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for the best Major Festival and Event for the fourth time.
Nightly concerts will take place at this year’s event, with the Living End playing on Thursday, The Presets and Pete Murray on Friday, Leigh Kernaghan on Saturday and Wolfmother on Sunday.
V8 Supercars Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Levick, said the Clipsal 500 was a world-class event that few others could match.
“For more than a decade Adelaide has set the mark for any event, sporting or otherwise, in this country,” Levick enthused.
“We are delighted to be partners in this great event.
“On the track, Adelaide is one of the most testing circuits for our drivers who show incredible courage battling searing heat and intense racing for more than two hours each day.
“Adelaide has in the past thrown up some of the best, edge of your seat, racing in the world.”
Did I mention that B and I will be there to see all this ?????
Considering that is your excuse for not coming to AGPII, posted ages ago...... 
Someone mentioned that they were going, just cant seem to remember who it was
