MOTORSPORT: What we want to see in 2024
Improved competition and Aussies winning overseas top our wish listAfter a somewhat lopsided season of motorsport in 2023, our 2024 wish list is topped by a desire to see improved competitiveness across leading race series.
While the Dutch national anthem rang out 19 times for Max Verstappen in his record-breaking third title tilt in 2023, numerous challengers are lining up to have their shot at Formula 1 glory.
Ferrari was quick on street circuits, as noted by Carlos Sainz’s Singapore victory and a string of podiums for Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton will be looking to improve on his best-of-the-rest status from this year, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell will seek to return to his winning ways after a somewhat lacklustre season.
Elsewhere, McLaren finished 2023 with a wet sail, after drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were podium regulars.
On local shores, the Repco Supercars Championship will be looking to find a better parity balance between the Gen3-spec Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.
Through the opening 24 races of season 2023, Chevrolet won all bar two races, one aided by the double Red Bull Ampol Racing disqualification in Newcastle, the other by a tyre advantage for Anton De Pasquale in Townsville.
Following a post-Bathurst parity change, the marques were practically inseparable on the Gold Coast, while the Blue Oval dominated the season finale in Adelaide.
Wind tunnel testing is currently underway in the USA, which is hoped to finally equalise the two cars.
Antipodean success overseas
All eyes will be on Shane van Gisbergen in 2024 as he transitions to North American stockcar racing, with a mixed campaign that is set to entail the various tiers of the NASCAR ladder.
After being the first debutant to win a NASCAR Cup Series race on debut in 60 years, the three-time Supercars champion subsequently announced his intentions to head Stateside with the leading Trackhouse Racing squad.
Elsewhere in the stockcar ranks, expect this year’s Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki to make a number of cameo appearances alongside his former title rival in NASCAR, following a solid debut for Richard Childress Racing at Indianapolis.
Another Down Under driver to watch will be Scott McLaughlin, as he continues his climb up the Indycar ladder for Penske Racing.
After finishing fourth overall in 2022, the Kiwi improved to third this year, with his lone win at Barber Motorsports Park backed by a more rounded overall performance.
A key talking point for the series will be its intended mid-season switch to hybrid powerplants.
Over in Formula 1, the Aussies will be looking to step up.
Oscar Piastri had a hugely impressive rookie season for McLaren, with which he finished ninth overall after a pair of late-season podiums supported by an F1 Sprint race win in Qatar.
Daniel Ricciardo will meanwhile line up at AlphaTauri under the team’s refreshed branding, although he is the anointed driver in waiting should the lead Red Bull squad tire of Sergio Perez.
Elsewhere internationally, Aussie Matt Campbell has earned a call-up from the factory Porsche prototype team, which will see the young gun drive in the World Endurance Championship and feature in one of the squad’s lead Le Mans 24 Hour entries.
An outright victory would add to his class success earned back in 2018.
Related: MOTORSPORT: Where to now for Supercars?
Related: MOTORSPORT: Kostecki claims Supercars title
Related: MOTORSPORT: Verstappen dominates Abu Dhabi
Related: MOTORSPORT: Piastri wins F1 sprint
Related: MOTORSPORT: SvG wins in Sydney, confirms NASCAR switch
Related: MOTORSPORT: SvG and Kostecki take on NASCAR
Related: MOTORSPORT: SvG wins on NASCAR debut
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