2018 Virgin Australia Supercars ChampionshipTouring Cars

[ScottPuss20]

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/04/13/rockhampton-unveils-supercars-circuit-designs/

Much rather this than Townsville.

 

[05XR8]

Well... umm... okay then...

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/04/14/supercars-owner-close-sell-investments/

The private equity firm which owns the majority stake in Supercars has notified investors that it will begin to close down, resulting in the sale of existing assets.

Archer Capital, which also owns the parent company of Supercars sponsor Red Rooster, has cancelled new fundraising and will instead realise its eight existing assets.

According to the Australian Financial Review, it is believed that the process will take place over a period of five years, and coincides with the likely retirement of founding partner Peter Wiggs.

Wiggs currently sits on the Supercars board alongside new CEO Sean Seamer and team owners Brad Jones and Rod Nash.

Archer was established in 1997 and took on its current name in 2004.

In 2011, it took a 65 percent stake in Supercars in a deal which valued the business at $300 million, with teams owning the remaining 35 percent.


Last year it enlisted the services of investment bank UBS to sell the category, with a mid-May deadline for non-binding indicative bids.

That endeavour was shelved a month later, with bids understood to be below the reported $100 million asking price.

AFR quotes a letter from Archer managing directors Ben Frewin and Peter Gold to investors yesterday morning which states, “The Fund 5 investment period will finish in May and we have reached an important decision not to raise a sixth fund.

“Going forward Archer Capital will devote 100 per cent of its efforts to continue maximising the value of the $1.1 billion we have invested in the eight remaining portfolios companies in Archer Capital’s funds 4 and 5 and provide outstanding returns to investors.”

The firm had attempted to raise a new fund, for further investments, last year but that process was postponed and now cancelled altogether.

Reports suggest that investors were unwilling to provide funds in light of Wiggs’ impending retirement and the departure of other investment managers from Archer in recent years.

 

[Spacegoat]

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/04/13/rockhampton-unveils-supercars-circuit-designs/

The back section through all the trees and whatnot looks great. If this track does come to fruition, I'd be more than happy to see it replace Ipswich on the calendar

 

[05XR8]

Road America also comes to mind, with that part as well.

 

[Spacegoat]

Auto Action are reporting that Ford Aus have given their approval for the Mustang to be raced in the series from next year. With both DJRTP and Tickford to develop the car.

 

[FPV MIC]

Auto Action are reporting that Ford Aus have given their approval for the Mustang to be raced in the series from next year. With both DJRTP and Tickford to develop the car.

Awesome news, but they might want to rethink that ''insiders name'', it's a bit premature imo... and I'm not sure how that modified and raised roof profile will look.

On a different note, I went out to The Bend yesterday and I have to say, IT'S 🤬 HUGE . I had no idea of the scale until we actually spent the whole day viewing from all around the circuit. The elevation changes are far greater than I'd expected, and while it still needs a hell of a lot of work, it's very very impressive. Bring on the Supercars.

 

[Pete05]

Awesome news, but they might want to rethink that ''insiders name'', it's a bit premature imo... and I'm not sure how that modified and raised roof profile will look.

On a different note, I went out to The Bend yesterday and I have to say, IT'S 🤬 HUGE . I had no idea of the scale until we actually spent the whole day viewing from all around the circuit. The elevation changes are far greater than I'd expected, and while it still needs a hell of a lot of work, it's very very impressive. Bring on the Supercars.

I've got serious concerns over the requirement for the raised roofline.
It could make it the ugliest Mustang on the planet

 

[Eh Team]

Auto Action are reporting that Ford Aus have given their approval for the Mustang to be raced in the series from next year. With both DJRTP and Tickford to develop the car.

That's funny. When the Captain calls, you don't send it to voicemail or you won't like what you hear.

 

[05XR8]

I should have read the sign, when my brother bought a Mustang last week!

This could get me in a Ford showroom, if it's true.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Not sure how I feel about Coupe's finally making their way into the series. I like the "super touring car" aspect they have going on with the sedans.

 

[05XR8]

I'd be surprised if Andreotti doesn't at least make a call to try for Camaro. It's in Walkinshaw's stable of imported road cars. I know Ryan said they wouldn't do it, but I wonder how Michael sees going after Penske. He's said he joined VASC because of Roger. Just wondering is all.

 

[Spacegoat]

Mustang could be powered by a V6TT.

It could make it the ugliest Mustang on the planet

Don't know if it could be any uglier than the MARC cars version of the Mustang.

I'd be surprised if Andreotti doesn't at least make a call to try for Camaro. It's in Walkinshaw's stable of imported road cars.

Would Holden allow them to run it though? I suppose that if WAU get the go ahead from General Motors themselves, Holden won't have much say in it.

 

[05XR8]

Mustang could be powered by a V6TT.


Don't know if it could be any uglier than the MARC cars version of the Mustang.


Would Holden allow them to run it though? I suppose that if WAU get the go ahead from General Motors themselves, Holden won't have much say in it.

It's an interesting one. I bet GM USA wouldn't mind. I think the ZB sells as a Buick in the USA. How GM Holdenwould feel? Don't know. The Camaro raced alongside Monaros in the past.

I'd say it fits in with the regs. Two different cars. Would it be like The Genesis Coupe and Stinger GT or Q50 and GT-R racing together? Maybe. We'll see. Curious to see if a new manufacturer steps up, after this announcement.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Not sure how I feel about Coupe's finally making their way into the series. I like the "super touring car" aspect they have going on with the sedans.

Again though, in relation to the history of this "series" that aspect is relatively newer, considering Sedans vs. Coupes have been a thing in the series before and the racing was just as legendary. The reason Australian racing has been good is because it's drivers and overall rules packages over the time, and style of being quite different to other regions of racing yet using similar working parts.

 

[Pete05]

Mustang could be powered by a V6TT.


Don't know if it could be any uglier than the MARC cars version of the Mustang.


Would Holden allow them to run it though? I suppose that if WAU get the go ahead from General Motors themselves, Holden won't have much say in it.

I clicked on that link & immediately thought, this is the work of Joshua Dowling.
Obviously it isn't so, it has some credit above zero.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

If it weren't Auto Action I'd be more happy, but since it is I'm still as cynical as I was before.

 

[Pete05]

If it weren't Auto Action I'd be more happy, but since it is I'm still as cynical as I was before.

In the time I was buying Auto Action (30 odd years), I leaned of two nicknames for it.
1). Auto Fiction
2). The fishwrappers fortnightly

 

[Spacegoat]

1). Auto Fiction

Was just about to say, there's a reason why people refer to it as Auto Fiction.

Wheels magazine are running the story now too. Guess we'll know sometime tomorrow if this is true or not.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

In the time I was buying Auto Action (30 odd years), I leaned of two nicknames for it.
1). Auto Fiction
2). The fishwrappers fortnightly

Was just about to say, there's a reason why people refer to it as Auto Fiction.

Wheels magazine are running the story now too. Guess we'll know sometime tomorrow if this is true or not.

It's sad when an American like me that watches the sport from across the sea, knows the nickname of that magazine.

 

[ed24]

Ford Australia on Facebook promoting an announcement at 11am AEST tomorrow.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Ford Australia on Facebook promoting an announcement at 11am AEST tomorrow.

Perhaps the same place Auto Action got their info to write the article posted above along with other groups

 

[05XR8]

 

[Pete05]

If anyone out there is into collecting models of Percat Supercars, they're going to need to extend their house.

Nick Percat > Mr. Musical livery man.

 

[Spacegoat]

Nick Percat > Mr. Musical livery man.

He must have an amazing collection of race suits by now.

 

[05XR8]

If Ford Australia are announcing Ford Performance and the VASC entry, I think DJRTP/Tickford will already have 3D models running in a clip. The have been "developing" the car after all.

 

[05XR8]

So, Raptor is official vehicle of VASC. Mustang is go! Tim Edwards said the feasibility study has been done(which we know).

 

[CodeRedR51]

Well, what's done is done. Hopefully it doesn't look like ass stretched over the control chassis.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well, what's done is done. Hopefully it doesn't look like ass stretched over the control chassis.

You seem quite salty about something positive manufacturing wise for the sport, especially one that has had a host of downturns over the past few years.

 

[CodeRedR51]

You seem quite salty about something positive manufacturing wise for the sport that has had a host of downs over the past few years.

I think I've posted numerous times that I prefer the sedans. It is what it is though, I just hope they don't look weird.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I think I've posted numerous times that I prefer the sedans. It is what it is though, I just hope they don't look weird.

Yeah you have which doesn't make sense considering the lineage again to the sport that I've informed you on and others. Second and most importantly I would think someone who loves this series as much as you've professed over the years would be happy to one see a manufacture return and two actually try to bring a car for the long term. Whatever your feelings are on such body styles, the point stands at the end of the day that this will help bolster VASC which has been needed.