The ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 is to be joined with the Sandown 500 and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 long distance classics following the introduction of the V8 Supercars Endurance Cup.
This year drivers will compete for the Endurance Cup across the three events, with accumulative points deciding the best drivers across the three long distance events.
V8 Supercar teams are now able to choose drivers to compete across all three events, or in any combination they choose. Previously teams had to nominate co-drivers for Sandown and Bathurst but the rules prevented them from competing on the Gold Coast.
It means drivers such as Finland's Mika Salo can fulfil his dream of a full endurance season of V8 Supercars. Salo won last year's ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 with Ford Performance Racing's Will Davison, afterwards saying his ultimate goal was to race all three endurance events.
The V8 Supercar Commission decided on the change to allow teams to plan their endurance season across all three races and allow for a thorough preparation.
"The Endurance Cup means that teams can choose one driver as their co-driver for all three events which allows them to train and plan for the longer stints," V8 Supercar Commission Chairman Mark Skaife said.
"These cars are not easy to drive on a one-off basis. While the Car of the Future will be more 'driver friendly' it's very difficult to transition into a race mode V8 Supercar with limited preparation.
"This way teams can spend the next eight months choosing and preparing the drivers they believe are best equipped across all three races."
The Endurance Cup will be decided at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 as the 'grand final' of the long distance season. The points from all races will be added together, meaning either a single driver or a pairing will be crowned the Endurance Cup winners.
As the Endurance Cup finale, the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 is to be grown into a week-long celebration hosting family friendly activities, parades and other initiates across the Gold Coast, in line with the Queensland Governments tourism objectives.
"It is all about celebrating the entire event, getting families and fans to the Gold Coast and getting the community involved," V8 Supercar CEO David Malone said.
"The ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 is a major drawcard for the State's tourism district and as the largest event in Queensland annually it is vital to the local economy.
"The Endurance Cup is about enhancing fan experience by creating high quality and competitive racing along with a variety of off track activities for the family, party goer and die-hard fans."
This year's ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 takes place from October 25-27.
ABOUT V8 SUPERCARS:
The V8 Supercar Championship is the premier motorsport category in Australasia. In 2013 there are 14 Championship events and the non-Championship event at the F1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Two events will be held overseas - in Auckland, New Zealand and in the USA at Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Seven V8 Supercar events feature the Dunlop Series, a separate Championship which supports the development of up-and-coming V8 Supercar drivers. In 2013, V8 Supercars produces its own television content for Australia's Seven Network. Through a network of international telecast partners V8 Supercars was broadcast into 137 countries, a reach approaching 500 million households. 2013 is the first year for the Car of the Future (CotF). These new cars are lighter, more economical, have increased agility and are highly competitive. The Ford vs Holden battleground of the last 20 years has been supplemented by new manufacturers and investors in Nissan Motorsport racing four Nissan Altimas and Erebus Motorsport running three Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8 Supercars.
For further information please contact:
Cole Hitchcock
General Manager Communications
V8 Supercars
+61 412 743 097
ch@v8supercars.com.au