V8 (Supercars) is Gr8

 

For those that know me you’d not be surprised to know that the phrase “you’d watch paint drying if it was competitive” has been thrown my way time and again. Whilst that not strictly true I have added another one to the list.

When you say sport in Australia at the moment, some people will laugh at the shambles that is their cricket team, others will relish the upcoming Lions tour, however my newest sport is found on the racetracks. Aussie V8 Supercars has recently come into my life through the wonders of Youtube.

If you can use the “motorsports as alcoholic drinks ” analogy. F1 is a bottle of Malt Whiskey, an acquired taste but to those who like it nothing beats it. Moto GP is a supermarket own brand lager, cheap and nasty and can lead you to roll around in pain after falling off something. Aussie V8’s is, to me, a cold Beer/Cider on a July day. Simple, basic but lots of fun.

The formula is fairly simple, its basic touring car racing with big loud, powerful cars and fairly short yet challenging tracks. The cars themselves are basic saloon cars but pack approx 650-700bhp, making the BTCC cars we see here look like Matchbox cars.

The reason I like it is because of the engineering, theyre not too complicated and as such its fairly easy to understand the ins and outs of how they work, they make a lot of noise and the racing is close and very exciting. I’m an F1 fan but can readily admit there are times its fairly processional and a bit dull (Bahrain and Valencia races spring to mind).

The best thing I think its that its just really good to watch, the way Channel 7 in Oz cover it is very engaging, the commentators sound like they’re having fun and a laugh whilst being professional and explaining clearly whats going on. They also bring the Austrailian humour into it, you’d never hear a race engineer or team principal saying “see you later mate” after an F1 driver leaves after a pitstop, that happens in V8 Supercars.

Then there is the series’ headline event, the Bathurst 1000. 5-6 hours of solid racing round and over Mount Panorama in NSW, a track that is unique in layout outside rallying given the   different altitudes at start and its highest point. Like all great racetracks it has its landmark corner. Called “The Chase” its a right hand kink at the end of a very long straight before a heavy braking zone for the final couple of corners. The cars fly through it flat out at about 180-190mph. To see 20-odd very loud and fast cars just storm through it must rank at some of the best viewing in world Motorsport. 

Overall its like an action movie, not watched for the glamour or for prestige, its watched because you want to, because you want a good time. I highly recommend watching some if you can. Visiting the Bathurst 1000 is now firmly on my bucket list.

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