Do we need another brand in V8 Supercars?
Fans will ultimately drive our sport so it was interesting to see what they thought in the poll that was released this week.
The big result for me was the enthusiasm about bringing another manufacturer into the sport. I think the poll just highlights how the world changes and motorsport has to be right on the front foot with these changes. We can’t be stuck in your old ways. We have to keep changing to keep it fresh. However, I’m not so sure about another manufacturer.
I think what it is telling us is that the fans are now starting to support drivers and teams, not just Holden V Ford. The days of red or blue are fading. It will never completely go, but we are starting to convert the fans to supporting people and teams which is better.
It’s the people behind the machinery that make the difference in this sport. Fans realise that V8 Supercars is not just Commodores and Falcons. They are purpose-built race cars. That’s what racing is all about; having a fast piece of machinery and watching guys trying to get that machinery around the track as quick as they can. It’s putting more emphasis on the drivers and teams.
I note that in NASCAR there are four manufacturers, but two are pretty shaky at the moment.
I don’t mind which way our sport goes, just so long as our cars stay the great race cars they are with lots of horsepower and really good brakes and suspension.
Meanwhile, I’m starting to look ahead to the enduro season in our sport and changing my training slightly.
Surprisingly we are in the car for a lot longer in a normal sprint race than in an enduro. However, with the enduros we are in the car three or four times a day, rather than just once. So you really have to convert your mind and body to switching on and off, on and off.
Most athletes do one major training session a day, but for the enduros we have to do several smaller sessions a day to get our bodies primed.
Craig and I are teaming up yet again for the endures, which is great. I’m not absolutely sure yet which car, engineer and mechanics we will use, but for the past couple of years it’s been mine. This year I think we will work with Craig’s race engineer, Jeromy Moore, and drive Craig’s car.
I think Jeromy is up to it. He’s very smart and switched on. He’s had Craig ultra-quick all year and he’s been innovative and pushing us along which is why I’ve had the success I’ve had. So I’ve got no problems jumping into Craig and Jeromy’s car. I know they will do a good job.
Can I just add that I was totally stoked by Valentino Rossi’s 100th win in the MotoGP last weekend following on from his incredible last-lap battle with Jorge Lorenzo the previous weekend.
I’m a big bike and Rossi fan and I’ll be glued to the TV screen on Monday morning when they go round at Laguna Seca in the US.