Roughly a week ago, NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kurt Busch took his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS Sprint Cup Car out for a few test laps on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, while Australian V8 Supercars driver James Courtney did the same in a Holden VF Commodore Car of the Future prototype (aka Chevy SS) — on which all VF Commodores competing in the Australian V8 Supercar series this year are built on (hat tip to Matt B.). The two drivers then swapped rides and notes, and went out for a few more laps in each other’s cars.
The drivers’ impressions of each others’ race cars were rather eye-opening — as the Chevy SS NASCAR Cup Car, which has no mechanical relation to the actual production car by the same name, was able to speed away from the VF Commodore V8 Supercar on the straightaways, but the right-hand-drive V8 Supercar was able to catch up in the turns. Check out the drivers’ initial impressions:
And here’s some (rather long) onboard footage from the Cup Car:
Busch and Courtney swapped their rides to promote the upcoming Austin 400 — an event that will mark the first time that V8 Supercars will race in the United States — a first for Australian motorsport. The race will be laid out in a traditional three-day race weekend format May 17-19th on the newly-engineered 5.5km circuit that’s widely compared to Australia’s ultimate race track at Mount Panorama.
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Kurt also passed his rookie test in the Andretti Chevy Indy car at 218 MPH
As for relation to the production car the Aussie car under the skin is no longer production as they have gone to a standard platform in the series to get other MFG’s involved.
Too many think the Aussie cars are still production based but them and the DTM cars are no longer so.
“Too many think the Aussie cars are still production based but them and the DTM cars are no longer so.”
Agreed, BUT the fact that at a glance just about anyone who isn’t informed thinks they are still modified production cars is a GOOD thing.
Except for F1, Indy or Prototype sports car racing, I don’t want to see car I can’t recognize or associate with racing. If you are gonna call something “Stock car”, “Touring Car”, or even “Sport Car” racing and it has race cars based on, or related to what I see on the street; they damn well better LOOK and be powered (FWD, RWD, AWD) the same way they are on the street.
As too many race car series – to inlcude V8 Supercars and World Challenge (the latter is production based) – have shown; making the cars mimic whats on the street is a non issue. In fact Many times it’s cheaper and promotes better racing as well.
The affect of less ground affects, narrower tires and associated high end race kit, limits speed and grip, plus keeps the racing closer and more exciting; requiring more skill from the drivers.
You really needs to take a deeper look here.
Racing is a part of the entertainment business and has to show a profit and attract MFG’s. While still a sporting event it still must entertain and provide MFG’s a place to show their good in a positive light.
In Road Racing they have the advantage to more closely resemble a street car but to keep cost in check and attract other MFG’s that do not make a V8 RWD car they now have the Car of the Future.
For safety, performamce, marketing and close racing they have had in most series tweek the cars for the needs of all. With technology as it is and what cars are on the market they can seldom put out a production model on the track anymore.
To often if these changes were not made you would lose MFG’s, one make would dominate and fans will go away. This has happen in Trans Am how many times?
Also it is sad but Road Racing in this country is very unappreciated. To me nothing is better than a track Like Mid Ohio etc.
The Daytona series and related Koni Challenge has tried to bring production cars to the track but often they have been overlooked and few people car. They put on a great race with FWD and RWD cars on the track. It reminded me of the old IMSA with GTO and GTU with production based cars. Even there I was with the Stevenson Racing team and saw how they had to restrict the intake of the Camaro to keep them from running away from the field even with a create engine from the dealer.
Production racing is not cheaper in most cases and that is why most sedan series are now going with the similar chassis. Also to bring in other makers like Nissan etc they have had to provide them with a RWD V8 platform since they have none in production.
The Aussie series has been very lucky Ford or GM has not pulled out as if one left it would have killed the series. They know they need to attract other MFG and do it soon. As much as I hated to see Toyota in NASCAR I knew it was needed as with out MFG support things can fail fast as with the old IMSA.
Road Racing at best is the most fun for me to watch but is the most unstable. Series come and go then reform and then go away again. I have seen it all from Can Am to Trans Am and even most recently the ALMS/Daytona merge.
I know some like to think with a puist mind set but it takes a lot of money support to keep a series alive. I expect to see with the new merges series that we will soon get a similar series here in the states for a V8 sedan. I expect to see it run with NASCAR races at Mid Ohio and the new IMSA series under the France family. The Detroit MFG are looking into it now and I would not be surprised in 2-3 years we will have something.
Either way NASCAR has had to adapt to what they need for todays aero technology and safety. They have done a damn good job with the recent car. While it will never be 100% stock looking they have done a good job.
The touring cars will see some changes but the aero issue is much less there so they can be much closer looking. But the key is to get people around the country here to pay the ticket to go see them and get better TV coverage to draw in better Supporting MFGs.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new track. Circuit of the Americas is changing the game! Learn more about rv camping and cabanas at rvnightly COTA.
If your readers are interested in more “car swaps,” Jesse James also got to drive the car at the same media event – here’s the vid:
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I work with V8 Supercars and we’re very excited for the upcoming race! Hope to see some of you there.
This isn’t James Courtney’s car. This was the Holden VF Commodore Car of the Future prototype. The VF’s racing this year are all derived from this one. James Courtney’s Holden Racing Team car would’ve been at Walkinshaw HQ being prepared for the Perth Chill 600. V8SC sent this one up to Austin for promotional stuff. Just wanted to mention this in case anyone picks up on it and complains.
Thanks Matt. I changed up the article to reflect this. 🙂