Nothing Like Whistling Past a Graveyard

7th November 2006

Nothing Like Whistling Past a Graveyard

When the 2007 Formula One season schedule was announced, with Australia being the opening event, it was also noted the wildly popular Australian V8 Super Car Series would not be part of the weekends program.

When Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker announced the absence of the V8’s the news was greeted with surprise by the sporting public in general. Those in the auto racing community, in unison, exclaimed: “What the hell is Walker thinking, he must have a few Kangaroos loose in the top paddock”

And that’s the printable family edition. Walker recently announced financial services company ING signed a multi-million dollar deal to become naming sponsor of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

He also used the occasion to “defend” the decision to drop the Super Cars Series from AGP weekend. Walker claims “Melbourne doesn’t need the V8 Supercars.”

“I don’t think we’ll miss the V8s,” Walker said yesterday. “Some of the races in Europe only have a Formula One race and Porsche Supercup.

“They (the V8 Supercars) are an add-on and has always been an addition to our calendar that we appreciate. “Because of the lateness in getting the (Australian Grand Prix) date from the FIA, the V8s couldn’t wait for us and they’ve gone to Perth instead.

“But next year they’ll be back. I’m absolutely confident.”

Ah huh, that sounds like a bet being hedged. Walker says they don’t need the V8’s, but gee, you all are welcome to come back now - in 2008!

It’s been reported the 2006 edition of the AGP had a 15% drop in attendance and attributed the downturn to the Commonwealth Games occurring during the same time frame and the same city, Melbourne. I won’t argue with that, it’s highly possible.

The organizers, and Rob Walker in particular, can whistle past that graveyard all they care to, but I’ll go on record now - the 2007 edition will see another 5%-10% drop in the head count under 2006.

Couple the loss of Australia’s premier racing series and the retirement of Michael Schumacher from the ranks of F1 and I see nothing but hard times for the AGP, at least for next year.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Tim Bamford has announced a “savior,” the V8s would be replaced by another racing category in 2007. He refused to say what that other class would be until the official 2007 Australian Grand Prix launch next week.

Pay close attention folks, the Half-Vast Staff™ of Full Throttle has an exclusive for ya.

The other category Bamford refers to is the Asian Formula 3 Series (AF3). Having attended this past weekend’s AF3 season ending event at Batangas Racing Circuit (Rosario, Philippines) I can assure you the talk of the paddock and the press box was the announcement AF3 would be part of the AGP in Melbourne for 2007.

The only caveat I would add is it has never been posted on the AF3 website.

However the local papers all covered the story and the buzz among the drivers and team owners seem to lend creditability to it. AF3 Chairman of the Board Mr. Jose Eduardo (Eddie) Pe

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 7th, 2006 at 9:17 pm and is filed under Commentary, Formula One. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On November 9th, 2006, peterg said:#

Walker’s blowing smoke out his arse, the V8’s “guarantee” that the event is a sell out, although if they are absent I don’t believe attendance would drop below 90% (if not a full house). Ironically the V8 teams despise the Melbourne round & have said so publicly. Firstly they are only there because the sponsors want the coverage & it’s a street race that can bring in a hefty damage bill. There have been years where it has not been a points scoring round (not sure if that is still the case) & they have run the old chassis instead of risking the latest model.Finally, the little dears hate the crowded pit they get stuck with & don’t like playing second fiddle/support to the big boys in F1, when you consider Tony Cochran has said that he believes the Gold Coast Indy round is a waste of money & should be run solely as a V8 event, you get the idea.

Call me a snob but I wont miss the V8’s at Melbourne, although I’m happy to watch the great racing, at least half of the die-hard V8 fans don’t have opposable thumbs & can’t spell deductive reasoning, let alone know what it is. Sitting in the stands at Adelaide in 94, the “Dick Johnston Ford” fan next to me was ignorant of any of the drivers names - save Mansell - & he had a vague notion that this was a final round championship decider. There will be a huge difference in the crowd make up & the demographics without the V8’s.

You have stumped me on the Asian F3 rumour & I will believe you as you have an ear to the ground, but if anybody else had told me this I would have said bs. Exactly who is prepared to foot the bill of flying the series down here? I would give a arm & a leg to have the GP2 grid down here but that’s just a pipe dream, man, GP2 Dallara/Renault’s at Melbourne…………………I think I’ve got a hard on, I need a cold shower.

posted on November 9th, 2006 at 11:36 am

2 On November 9th, 2006, Marc said:#

I vaguely recall something about the V8’s leaving their best equipment home for the Melbourne event but old age and a dusty memory dictated I leave that out.

AF3 Chairman of the Board Mr. Jose Eduardo (Eddie) Pe

posted on November 9th, 2006 at 12:04 pm

Full Throttle