F1 dumps V8 Supercars

20/01/2013

Mat Coch writes:

There will be no V8 Supercars on the support schedule for this year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it has been announced. The news comes as a result of a revised GP2 and GP3 schedule, which will now support Formula One at Yas Marina, packing the schedule too tightly to accommodate the Australian touring car series.

"It has always been clear that (Formula One Management) ultimately decides, or approves, 'support' categories that run in conjunction with Formula One," said V8 Supercars Australia CEO David Malone.

"We were acutely aware of this when we announced the 2013 calendar, with FOM then making this decision in late December. We thoroughly enjoy competing alongside Formula One and are absolutely comfortable with this news."

Australia's most popular racing series, V8 Supercars is undergoing something of an expansion with revised technical regulations and new races outside of the category's homeland. The traditional Ford versus Holden (General Motors) rivalry will this year be joined by entries from Nissan and a privately entered Mercedes-Benz team as 'car of the future' regulations allow new manufacturers into the sport.

V8 Supercars will continue to support the Australian Grand Prix in March, before heading to the Circuit of the Americas in Texas in May for the series' first ever United States round. In 2012 the series had been the only supporting category at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.