V8s make their return to WA
V8 Supercars returns to Barbagallo Raceway and Western Australia after a one-year hiatus with the Championship race spiced up following a dramatic weekend across the ditch in Hamilton.
Not only does V8 Supercars have two new race winners in the form of Kelly Racing and Shane van Gisbergen, but also the Championship race has been tightened up substantially as the pack closes in on Jamie Whincup following his difficult weekend in New Zealand. Look for the XXXX GOLD Ambassador to bounce-back in Perth as he tries to replicate his Saturday win during V8 Supercars’ last trip to Barbagallo in 2009. Also lookout for fellow XXXX GOLD Ambassador Garth Tander, who is on home soil at Barbagallo and will be eager to replicate his 2007 clean-sweep of the weekend in front of his fellow West Aussies.
The tight and twisty Barbagallo Raceway, situated 40 minutes north of Perth’s CBD, tends to produce rough and tumble racing, with qualifying well very important as well as staying out of trouble on a track which is notorious for biting unsuspecting drivers.
V8 Supercars reverts back to its former three race per weekend format with three 120km races – one on Saturday at 2:05pm local time and two on Sunday at 10:35am and 2:05pm. Sunday qualifying will be particularly interesting as a driver’s fastest qualifying lap sets the grid for Race 8 in the morning and their second fastest lap sets the grid for Race 9 in the afternoon. Dunlops hard tyres will be used on Saturday while their softs will be used throughout Sunday.
Also in attendance will be the second tier Fujitsu Series, who are making their first-ever trip out west to compete at Barbagallo, as well as the Australian Superbike Championship, the reborn Porsche Carrera Cup series, the V8 Utes and Touring Car Masters series, so it’s a packed schedule over the three days.
V8 fans in Perth can head down to Forrest Place in the CBD on Thursday April 28 from 11.30am to 1.30pm to meet V8 Supercar drivers, but all the action will be out at Barbagallo for what’s sure to be three cracking races.
