V8 Supercars: 2014 Form Guide
There's no such thing as a sure bet, but in 2014 Triple Eight will take some beating...A new brand has arrived at V8 Supercars, drivers and key team personnel have been on an off-season merry-go-around and even the race formats have changed, but it’ll take a brave racing fan to bet against the in-form team Triple Eight (T8).
Better known as Red Bull Racing Australia, the Holden-equipped squad has won five of the last six drivers’ championship and five teams championships, the last four in a row.
This year T8 will face AMG Mercedes, Nissan and Ford teams, all of whom also has a full season under the wheels of their ‘New Generation’ racers. And for added space, Volvo joins the fray.
Yesterday we detailed all of the changes to the V8 Supercar grid, garages and championship format, now here’s our form guide for what’s set to be an intriguing series.
Red Bull Racing Australia
Whincup and Lowndes
FOR: In Jamie Whincup RBRA has the best driver in the field, combining talent, dedication and a fierce will to win. Teammate Craig Lowndes is by far the most popular driver with fans and commendably has pushed himself harder and harder in recent years to give Whincup a real run for the title.
Led by Roland Dane, a man with an unquenchable thirst for winning, RBRA consistently leads the field on and off track in terms of organisation, resource, talent and dedication. In the first year of the new tech regs, RBRA wasn’t always on top of the car but overall it was still clearly the best team out there and deservedly starts 2014 as odds-on favourite.
AGAINST:
?
Winterbottom, Perkins, Mostert and Reynolds
FOR: Winning Bathurst in 2013 in ahead-to-head duel with RBRA was a huge breakthrough for this perennially under-performing team. With Mark ‘Frosty’ Winterbottom in the peak of his form and the team’s Falcons clearly competitive, now is the time to win the Championship. Frosty is clearly happier now that Will Davison has departed for Erebus, and his brother Alex has been replaced in the Jeld-Wen car by Jack Perkins. His new team-mate Chaz Mostert will undoubtedly impress, while David Reynolds in the Bottle-O car could do anything – and probably will.
AGAINST: To win the Championship FPR must avoid the errors that creep into its performances -- like the 2013 wheel nut saga.
Significant engineering changes with the departure of exceptional engineers James Small, Mat Nilsson and Campbell Little won’t help. The team’s future is also under a cloud with Ford renewing its backing for only a single year and the suggestion US motorsport mogul Roger Penske might buy out current owners Rod Nash and Rusty French for the 2015 season.
?
?
FOR: The New Generation V8 Supercar has proved pivotal for the Albury team, which utilised new machinery to allow Fabian Coulthard to break through for his first win and Jason Bright to re-emerge as a race and championship challenger.
The addition of Dale Wood is driven by budget, but the development series champion could prove a pleasant surprise in a supportive environment. BJR has a strong and stable engineering team and no bullshit owners in brothers Brad and Kim Jones.
AGAINST: Budget, always budget with these guys. As other teams get their heads around the new car, will BJR have the resources to be able to hang at the front or will it slip back into the midfield?
FOR: Shane van Gisbergen is probably the most talented (in terms of pure car control) driver in the field. He is also driving a Commodore built by T8. Importantly, significant technical support comes with it.
AGAINST: van Gisbergen is probably the most unpredictable driver in the field and at 24 he still has a lot of growing up to do. It’s unlikely Tekno has the resources (even with the addition of ex-F1 engineer Steve Hallam) to race for the championship. Wins are guaranteed though.
Holden Commodore
?Courtney, Tander, Slade, Percat
FOR: The addition of Adrian ‘take no prisoners’ Burgess as Walkinshaw Rcaing boss will sharpen up this four-car squad (led by the Holden Racing Team) significantly. Progress was made in the previous two years under Steve Hallam, but Burgess is an entirely different animal – with the emphasis on animal.
If the rejigged technical team led by Mat Nilsson can deliver a good car then James Courtney can win in it. Garth Tander will always give his best, while Tim Slade (Super Cheap) finished fifth in the title two years ago. Rookie Nick Percat also looks a prospect.
AGAINST: Burgess and Courtney are big-time mates. Will that cause favouritism, or even the perception of it? If it does, then look for dissension in the ranks and more upheaval in what is always a politically charged atmosphere.
Tander’s current contract is up at the end of the year and if negotiations get tricky that could create problems. But the core issue is car speed... In 2013 it was lacking in the Walkinshaw-built Commodores, especially in qualifying. If that doesn’t get fixed it’s going to be another long year.
FOR: This is the best structured effort from any of the three new brands to come into the championship. Volvo is providing significant cash; Polestar significant technical expertise; and Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) practical and engineering expertise -- as well as Valvoline sponsorship.
The car-build has gone as well as can be expect and both S60s managed a lot of laps in the pre-season test with only a relatively minor power steering hose issue causing dramas. In Scotty McLaughlin, the team has a great talent capable of delivering the best possible results.
AGAINST:
Surely a local driver with acknowledged testing ability such as Jack Perkins would have been a better choice?
?
FOR: If the much chronicled aerodynamic issues are resolved then look for a stronger run from the four Nissan Altimas.
A relatively stable off-season included no change to the driving roster. That’s good news because Rick Kelly again showed that’s he’s one of the classiest drivers in the field while James Moffat (he of the ‘jungle juice’ Winton win) showed he could soon join him. Also, good signs from Nismo in Japan that the Aussie program is being taken more seriously and supported more heavily.
AGAINST: If the aero isn’t better then it’s another season of struggle -- as it has been the development focus over the summer. Also, the VK56DE engine won’t be getting much needed updates until mid-season – if current work by Nismo bears fruit.
Todd Kelly needs to have a strong season, despite the distractions his technical role in the team he co-owns does bring. Michael Caruso also needs to step out of Moffat’s shadow.
?
FOR: Russell Ingall brings huge racecraft and knowledge to this restructured little Melbourne team. There’s no reason he can’t score the occasional top 10 in a T8-built Commodore, especially early in the season as others get themselves sorted. On the other side of pitwall former Minda Motorsport boss Bruin Beasley should take the organisational load off Lucas Dumbrell.
AGAINST: LDM is unique in pitlane because of the situation of its young, quadriplegic owner. Simon McNamara and the crew at Holden Motorsport deserve plaudits for aiding this latest restructure but no-one can deny LDM has a history of organisational turmoil, staff turnover and poor results.
FOR: The cars will be better after a year’s running; the team will be better now that a few blokes have had a holiday for the first time since 2012; and the driving roster has been bolstered significantly with the arrival of Will Davison.
AGAINST: Will the cars be good enough? At least we know Davison is good enough for us to find out. Lee Holdsworth needs to match him or there will be doubts.
Team owner Betty Klimenko insists Erebus is meant to be a money-making operation, but so far she remains the primary investor. The relationship with Mercedes-Benz Australia remains frigid and the deal with AMG (which has delivered mixed messages about its attitude to the program) is up for renewal this year.
FOR: With sound sponsorship from Wilson Security and strong management from his co-owners, Dick Johnson enters 2014 in his strongest position since James Courtney’s 2010 Championship win. Scott Pye is a big talent who learned a lot from his eventful rookie season at LDM.
New sporting director Campbell Little has built a stronger engineering team, while vital technical links with FPR are retained.
AGAINST: The loss of young gun Chaz Mostert to FPR hurts. In his third year in the championship David Wall needs to deliver consistently, not occasionally.
The current management team needs also to avoid the ructions that have periodically hurt DJR in the past. Chat of Roger Penske buy-out doesn’t help with that.
The V8 Supercar season kicks off this weekend in Adelaide with the Clipsal 500.
Do you own this car or one similar? Review and rate it via carsales’ owner review hub
Don't forget to register to comment on this article.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
