Asian Motor Sports

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 and Asian Motor Sports 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) Peña was very demonstrative in expressing his joy at showcaseing his AF3 Series in Australia.

I take that as meaning it’s a done deal, we’ll see for sure next week.

As background, I would rate AF3 below the European, Japanese and the Australian F3 series’. Although it has had a few notable drivers, Christian Jones (son of F1 champ Alan) won the 2005 championship, and both John O’Hara and Moreno Soeprapto had their debut for A1GP in the first “Rookie Sessions” held at the Zandvoort this year, overall the talent level is lower than other F3 series.

In summation, I think Walker better “bring a flashlight” as he passes the graveyard of AGP 2007 if he truly believes AGP doesn’t need the Super Cars and chief executive Tim Bamford is offering anything but a “savior” for the event.

Cross Posted @ Full Throttle