In years gone by, the V8 Supercar Series has been a support category treated like any other at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

This year I saw it for myself.

I have worked at countless V8 Supercar rounds but never the non championship race at Albert Park so I was shocked, to say the least, to see how the category was treated. They had their paddocks in tents, in a grassy field, far away from the track. Their media centre was also in a tent, with limited food, water, timing screens and televisions.

In contrast, everything about Formula One was first class, from the paddock, to the pits and the media centre. At one stage I left the Formula One media centre to go and get my cardigan from a friends bag in the V8 Supercar media centre as I was so cold from the air conditioning. At that stage, theirs wasn't working. Understandably, I wasn't very popular when I voiced my complaint. Nor when I informed them on the umpteen screens for each row, or the soy milk in the fridge, they didn't even have a fridge.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand Formula One has to come first, I whole heartedly agree. It is the pinnacle, a first class, billion dollar industry and the V8 Supercars are there to support them. General feelings were that they deserve a little bit more respect as an extremely popular, successful category in their own right. It looks like now they are going getting it.

Details were released this week of a new five year deal that will see the V8's stay as the main support category and be given pit facilities at the southern end of the current Formula One garages until 2015. No more tents for them!

The round will stay as a non championship meeting for the teams, but the races themselves will be longer. Fans will get a 200km race on the Friday and Saturday, followed by a final 100km race on the Sunday to satisfy all their V8 Supercar needs. Oh and there will be a $500,000 prize pool to be shared by the winners, so there is something in it for the drivers too.

Who says you can't please everyone? Jacki Warnock Girlracer Magazine

Worth Checking - Motoring news - Motorsport news - Jacki Warnock

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Comments (2)

• |2010-07-05 12:59:22 Supercar Club  - Albert Park is the best for V8 Supercars!
  So glad that V8 is staying at Albert Park. Surely the best venue for it?!
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• |2010-08-15 10:37:28 philcarter
  very informantive acticle in relation 2 the v8s very good 2 c someone finally having avoice in relation 2 the status in regards 2 where v8s stand at the gp at albert park they should sack that tony cockaraine and put u in charge of advesco keep up the good work
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