Without a doubt, the V8 Supercar Championship is the largest motoring sports event in all of Australia in terms of attendance and television audience. In fact, this car racing event has broken attendance record by getting its 20 millionth spectator at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 last year. As a result, car event organisers have increased the V8’s domestic events with 12 local races on weekends. The growing number of V8 Supercar races will only mean that the marquee events will be a lot tougher as the world-class racecar drivers will be vying for the top spot. Aside from that, hotly contested races would be highly anticipated by fans with the passion for speed. Looking for custom-made Holden VE Commodore racecar like the one driven by Craig Lowndes or Mark Skaife? Check out a motoring search site for up-to-date, real-time listings.
The marquee events of the V8 Supercar are the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, the L&H 500 Phillip Island, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, and the Sydney Telstra 500. Cars event organisers have also scheduled local races throughout the year as build-up competitions for the big races. Actually, there are three V8 Supercar series – International V8 Supercars Championship for level one drivers, the V8 Supercar Development Series for level two drivers, and the now-defunct V8 Touring Car National Series. The race car event series vary according to the race formats – warm up, practice, qualifying, endurance, and sprint races. Here are the top four events in the V8 Supercar calendar:
Clipsal 500 Adelaide – March 1-4, 2012
International racing legend Murray Walker said that it is "the best touring car event in the world." The Clipsal 500 Adelaide is the most anticipated car launch event of the V8 Supercar Championship. Staged at the world-renowned 3.2-kilometre Adelaide Street Circuit, the event combines the elements of the fast-paced racing action with world-class entertainment that builds up various supporting races with over 90 on and off track events.
Being South Australia’s largest annual sporting event, the 2008 edition boasts of having the largest crowd ever for a domestic motorsport event with 291,400 spectators packed the street circuit to witness Jamie Whincup win it all with his Ford BF Falcon. He is set to defend his title against a determined competition that includes 2010 winner Garth Tander and 2011 runner up Mark Winterbottom.
L&H 500 Phillip Island – September 16-18, 2011
Held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, the recently revived L&H 500 Phillip Island endurance race replaced the Sandown 500 as the lead-up event to the annual Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. It may not be the top car show event, the L&H 500 Phillip Island showed the successful campaign of Team Vodafone with dynamic duo Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife winning their second-straight title.
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – October 6-9, 2011
Dubbed as “The Great Race,” the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is considered as the “Mecca of Motorsport” because of its 1,000-kilometre race that pits the best racecar drivers in the world. Staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, the race is the pre-eminent domestic racing event in the country just as the Americans’ love for Indy 500 and NASCAR. Not just a classic car event, it is a marathon session that takes 161 laps on a track that features two long straights and a tight section of fast blind corners across the mountains.
The race winners will receive the prestigious Peter Brock Trophy in honour of the late nine-time competition winner Peter Brock, the most successful driver in the history of the race. In anticipation of the event, fans can camp in designated areas.
Sydney Telstra 500 – December 2-4, 2011
The last event of the V8 Supercar Series is the Sydney Telstra 500, which replaces the Grand Finale event held at the Oran Park Raceway. The new event is expected to make a name for itself as the premiere motorsports event in the Sydney area. Just like the event car racing held in Adelaide, the Sydney Telstra 500 follows an identical format to the Clipsal 500 with two 250-kilometre races. Apart from the season-ending races, John Farnham, Noiseworks, James Reyne, Bliss n Eso, Jebediah, and many others will entertain the fans with their performance.
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