Its Done! Drivers to stay in their own cars in the enduros! (Now with Poll!)

[GTRMagic]

Here

So we will see 29 genuinely competitive cars (at least at some point during the events....) with the regular pilots at the wheel

Sounds like something we have heard for some years now, and VESA seem to have finally done it!!

[STEALTHY]

Great news. Makes picking your 2nd driver all the more important.

[Chris - Melb]

The best decision ever. It will double the amount of contenders for outright victory.

It will add costs to the team, but should lead to a healthier driver pool (more competitive co-drivers) and hopefully aid the development series and ultimately the main series.

I hope the talk of the main drivers still being able to team up if only one of them scores points is not on; otherwise it will be situation normal...

[anthony81901]

Problem is there are only 6-10 genuinely competitive co-drivers, certainly not 29. So much for containing costs, the price of employing co-drivers will go through the roof.

Bathurst has always been about teams putting their best foot forward and going all out for the win rather than conserving points, thats why I would prefer it not be part of the championship.

Noonz summed it the reasons against here http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2009/10/...ldnt-be-split/

[NAC]

Like this.

Maybe now we will see better driver pairings based on best driver to support the regular and less 2 paid driver pairings to fluff around in the B car

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by NAC

Like this.

Maybe now we will see better driver pairings based on best driver to support the regular and less 2 paid driver pairings to fluff around in the B car

Exactly, that was my thinking. It seemed they were stacking all the A level drivers in half the cars in the field complete with silly half and half paint schemes and then leaving half the rest of field to be whored out to whatever pay drivers they could.

This change which is sensible for keeping drivers with their own cars, will be a benefit for the enduros.

[Micklegend]

So if this year is examined, who would not have such a good pairing?

HRT had capable co-pilots (however dumbell got a red suit but the guys in car 10 were not retards), 888 could split simonsen and thompson between CL and JW, FPR had youlden and canto, both great drivers, GRM had potential race winners, DJR had a solid pairing.

I welcome the splitting of drivers, should always be that way.

[GTRMagic]

If you take a positive from it, perhaps the main game teams shall support the Fujitsu series to groom codrivers...

[Chris - Melb]

Precisely!

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

If you take a positive from it, perhaps the main game teams shall support the Fujitsu series to groom codrivers...

[TOOTHFAIRY]

V8SC, Have finally opened the door for some very talented, non millionare young drivers to perhaps, live their dream and have a drive in the V8SC Series, Its certainly not a negative, their is quiet a few really good young blokes out there, who would gladly be aligned with teams all year, and tests etc, do all the P/R stuff, etc just to get an endurance drive. This is a major step foward in developing young drivers into V8SC, and forget about extra costs to teams, 90% of the youngin's will drive for free!. Look at whats happened in the past most of the so called 'GUN' Co Drivers from O/S , that cost a small fortune to bring out here ,DONT Perform in value for money stakes. It is almost impossible to break into any form of V8SC, Racing unless you have a minimum of 500-600K, FOR Fujitsu or 800K-1Million for the main game, NOT to many kids or their Familes have got that sort of Money, so GOOD ON YOU V8SC, it's a very positive move for all aspects of Motorsport both State Level and National.

[Trev Campbell]

Cam McConvilles stocks just went through the roof !!!!!!!!

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Trev Campbell

Cam McConvilles stocks just went through the roof !!!!!!!!

And he'll be able to do his own tire changes too!

I'm in two minds about this decision, on one hand it opens the field up and places more pressure on the co driver but on the other hand its great having a team's regular two drivers in the lead car, its worked so far so why change now?

[thunderbolt]

this may bring some top young drivers in to the sport but will it turn in to a sport where a contract is not worth the paper it is written on ?

[ForumNick]

Originally Posted by thunderbolt

...turn in to a sport where a contract is not worth the paper it is written on ?

and that would differ from the current situation....... how?

[Trevor]

Great decision, plenty of overseas drivers in the 2010 enduro rounds though.

[anthony81901]

Originally Posted by Big_Trev

Great decision, plenty of overseas drivers in the 2010 enduro rounds though.

If anything it will reduce the number of overseas drivers. With the notable exceptions of John Cleland, Klaus Neidzweidz & Win Percy few have been anything but mid pack runners or in some cases mobile chicanes, eg Matt Neal, 2nd 888 car this year. They often have impressive CVs but with restricted testing, and the different characteristics of the cars and track they don't have enough time to get up to speed.

By pairing their lead drivers and putting all their eggs in one basket, teams have been able to blood talent without them being under as much pressure to perform in the 2nd car. Jim Richards being paired with Dean Canto, James Courtney & Ryan Briscoe and Paul Radisich with a young Cameron McConville come to mind.

If we look at who will be the drivers in demand Besnard, Luff, McConville, Ritter & Skaife, inevitably they will end up at the big teams so it will be business as usual. While there is a performance gap between the regular drivers, the gap between the part timers will be even more so.

This year there were teams with 2 regulars, 2 part timers and 1 of each in contention for the win. And the BJR, GRM, Kelly & Tasman teams up against HRT & 888, rather than the normal fight between the latter 2.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Big_Trev

Great decision, plenty of overseas drivers in the 2010 enduro rounds though.

Is that a bad thing? Don't you like top-level drivers from around the globe to take part of your races alongside the best drivers from down under? Besides, if Argentines can attract Alain Menu and Jacques Villeneuve, you can surely get great drivers.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Is that a bad thing? Don't you like top-level drivers from around the globe to take part of your races alongside the best drivers from down under? Besides, if Argentines can attract Alain Menu and Jacques Villeneuve, you can surely get great drivers.

We love having them here. How many have tamed our cars and the circuit is another story all together (not many infact)

One for the stat keepers, whats the highest place finish an international has gotten at Bathurst? And to compare apples with oranges, how many have had DNFs through non mechanical failures?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

We love having them here. How many have tamed our cars and the circuit is another story all together (not many infact)

One for the stat keepers, whats the highest place finish an international has gotten at Bathurst? And to compare apples with oranges, how many have had DNFs through non mechanical failures?

1977, Hardie-Ferodo Bathurst 1000
Winners: A.Moffat/J.Ickx

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

One for the stat keepers, whats the highest place finish an international has gotten at Bathurst? And to compare apples with oranges, how many have had DNFs through non mechanical failures?

wasn't there a black Sierra that won driven by a couple of Imports once? before the disqualification of course

[racer69]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

We love having them here. How many have tamed our cars and the circuit is another story all together (not many infact)

One for the stat keepers, whats the highest place finish an international has gotten at Bathurst? And to compare apples with oranges, how many have had DNFs through non mechanical failures?

The overseas drivers are generally fine with the track, look at the ease they tamed it with particularly in 1987 and 1997, and they've had plenty of success at the track.

The problem is the cars, and how specialised they are these days even for the part-time locals, letalone international drivers used to FWD and much less weight.

[Axeman444]

think its good, instead of having 6 - 8 cars that can win, it virtually doubles that competitive field, and yes agree with more support for fujitsu may result, and a better future for the good drivers without $$, and less cars being mobile chicanes

[STEALTHY]

I hope the talk of the main drivers still being able to team up if only one of them scores points is not on; otherwise it will be situation normal...

If this is how it will be, i like the idea. Will give the kelly boys a shot at winning together (assuming both aren't in the fight for the championship)


Has anyone else remembered the fact that T8 were picked to do a '4peat', which wont be possible now (with the same drivers all 4 years) unless one sacrifices the championship to do it.

[david5]

This is rubbish, teams should be allowed to pair who they like. The current situation allowed teams to pick 4 good drivers if they wanted too ie GRM this year or put two steady as she goes drivers in so they could concentrate on having a red hot go at winning. All this does is make the haves better & the have nots further behind.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

If this is how it will be, i like the idea. Will give the kelly boys a shot at winning together (assuming both aren't in the fight for the championship)


Has anyone else remembered the fact that T8 were picked to do a '4peat', which wont be possible now (with the same drivers all 4 years) unless one sacrifices the championship to do it.

The rule says that any drivers registered and competing in the Championship cannot drive together.The only way Todd and Rick can drive together is if one of them does not race in the series for the rest of the year.