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AGIT8D
17-05-2011, 08:19 AM
http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/for-sale-v8-supercars-series-240m-20110131-1aa5g.html


Majority stake in Australia’s premier motor racing championship up for grabs as series targets brands beyond Ford and Holden.

V8 Supercar bosses predict the sale of Australia's premier motorsport category will encourage other makes to join Holden and Ford on the grid.

A majority stake in V8Supercars is available to the right buyer at a forecast price up to $240 million.

The 'for sale' sign goes up as the category develops new 'Car of the Future' technical regulations for 2013, which open the championship to new brands.
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Private equity firms, sports promotion companies and media organisations have all been touted as potential investors. A finalised deal is expected by July.

"I think it (a successful sale) sends a strong message about our sustainability to car manufacturers who are considering coming into V8Supercars," said Tim Miles, the former team owner and V8Supercar board member managing the sale. "An investor who can write an X hundred million cheque for 50 per cent of the business is obviously a serious entity.

"A car manufacturer will see this has a long-term future like Formula One and MotoGP, unlike other forms of motorsport that have come and gone. So it gives a manufacturer confidence about the longevity of it, as far as considering a proposal from [another championship] and us. It gives us some strength."

V8Supercars executives have been out among car distributors in Australia touting the new rules. While there have been admissions of some interest from some, including Nissan, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, none has signed on as yet.

One of the reasons cited for the share sale is the investment V8 teams have to make to develop and build their new Car of the Future racers and the inventory of parts needed to keep them running.

"When we go the revised car in 2013 there is going to be the need to replace all your cars and to change the spares that go with it," explained V8Supercar board member Roland Dane, also owner of multi-Bathurst and championship-winning Team Vodafone.

"The [Car of the Future] base car will cost less than it does for most teams today, but you will still have to change your inventory. So there will be a fairly significant and concentrated capital expenditure required that is normally spread over a three-year cycle."

Currently, V8Supercars is 75 per cent owned by 17 team owners and 25 per cent by the sports and entertainment promoter SEL.

SEL's entire share is up for sale and the team owners are willing to dilute their share to between 50 and 25 per cent, effectively handing a new partner control of the category.

V8Supercars expects to raise between $160m and $240 million from the sale, which means each team owner could – in theory – collect as much as $6 million per car they race.

V8Supercars claimed a profit of $32 million in 2010 on a turn-over of $135 million.

Outspoken V8Supercar chairman Tony Cochrane, who is an SEL board member, will retain his V8 position, buy a shareholding and leave SEL under the new arrangement.

SEL chairman James Erskine is understood to be a reluctant seller, as he alone accounts for 48 per cent of the SEL share. Under pressure from the teams, he has agreed to sell-out for the right deal.

While SEL is a largely passive shareholder, V8Supercars wants a new partner to inject funding and provide expertise for a new expansion planned into the Asian region. The Cochrane-developed blueprint envisions 11 races in Australia, six in Asia and one in New Zealand.

http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2011/05/08/v8-supercars-sold-to-sydney-investment-firm/


Sydney-based private equity firm Archer Capital is in the final stages of an agreement to purchase V8 Supercars for more than $300 million, with the deal set to be concluded within a week.

After more than 12 months of preparation and negotiation, it is believed that Archer has won out in a final two-horse race with the World Sports Group.

While all financial agreements are not available, it is believed that REC owners (license owners) will receive approximately $4 million each as part of the buy-out while retaining 40 percent of the business.

Importantly, Tony Cochrane will be retained as the company’s chairman and public face and part of his arrangement will be part ownership.

Given the suggested figures, Sports and Entertainment Limited will receive more than $A75 million for its 25 percent stake – split between the current owners Cochrane, James Erskin, David Coe and Basil Scaffidi.

The V8 Supercars deal was brokered by Tim Miles, who is a former part owner of Tasman Motorsport and the head of mid-market house Miles Pty Ltd.

Miles is the expert in that field and has been working around the clock with V8 Supercars hierarchy to get all the elements lined up.

Speedcafe.com spoke to Miles who said that the deal is close to being finalised.

“My team has been locked away all this weekend and will continue to be locked away for the next couple of days with Archer and all of their advisors to get us to the pointy end,” Miles told Speedcafe.com.

“The view is to have it finalised by next weekend.”

The focus of the new structure will be to increase the value through a new TV rights deal, and increasing the yield from events.

Archer Capital is a Sydney-based, Australian-owned private equity firm, specialising in management buyouts and leveraged buyouts.

Some of the companies that Archer Capital has been associated with include John West Foods, Sulo, Emeco, Repco and the Signature Security Group.

Archer Capital current owns or part-owns Ausfuel, MYOB (Mind your own business), Cellarmasters Group, Rebel Group, iNova Pharmaceuticals and West Australian dairy business DairyWest.

Archer’s advisory bank of choice is JPMorgan and it has been speculated they are also majorly involved in the financing of the final deal.

Final clarity on how the new structure will work, how business will be separated from the sport and who has the final say on key issues will be revealed in coming weeks.

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8250050


V8 Supercars are set to confirm the reported $300 million sale of 60 per cent of the competition's shareholding to a Sydney-based private equity firm.

The motorsport championship has called a media conference in Sydney at 11.30am AEST at which details of the sale are expected to be announced.

It's believed the terms of the deal will see shareholders Sports and Entertainment Limited (SEL), which owns 25 per cent of the championship, and the teams, which own 75 per cent, selling a majority share to Archer Capital.

Each team will reportedly received $4 million up front from the deal while the teams will retain a 40 per cent share of the business.

Current boss Tony Cochrane will be retained as chairman as the championship enters negotiations for the next round of television rights.

The current TV deal with the Seven Network ends at end of 2012.

Discuss.

Good or bad for the sport, what do you think the future holds? Or will the series remain the same.. There should be an update live in about 15 minutes officially explaining WTF is going on.

TJ
17-05-2011, 08:21 AM
Cochrane will walk away with about 75 million bucks, and STILL have a position of prominence in the sport.

Well played by him.

The car of the future is coming in 2013, whether it brings any new brands... well yeah.

I think the new model delivers more money back to the teams, which can only be a good thing for the sport.

-Luke-
17-05-2011, 08:28 AM
I would love to see a multi make series return, not sure if the "car of the future" will make this possible.

Even if it turns into a virtual spec class racing format having tojo, mitsi , Nissan, Dodge etc etc etc Badges on the front of the cars it would draw more interest from Joe Public who doesn drive a Folden Taxi

Tre-Cool
17-05-2011, 08:38 AM
have no interest in watching rebranded shell's racing around any track. That's why nascar is shit to watch.

just a different skin over the same baseline. wanna make it easy. make the pingpingpingpings racing go karts.

-Luke-
17-05-2011, 08:45 AM
How different are the V8's now? Same suspension, gearboxes, etc etc Its only going to get worse once the COF comes out.

(taken from V8supercars.com)

While front suspension and steering is generally unchanged from Project Blueprint, CoF features control independent rear suspension and uprights and 18 inch wheels.

The Holinger mid mounted gearbox remains unchanged but the move from a spool to Detroit locker rear differential will be investigated.

Brakes, cooling and fuel system will all be controlled along with the chassis loom, control engine looms control ECU and logger.

The control ECU will allow for reduced fuel consumption during pitstops and yellow flag periods which is in line with new technology in road cars.

Body work must be substantially representative of the production car model, with aero parity maintained and bio composites will be introduced.



What difference is a slightly different body style,headlight decals and different badge going to make?

matty12
17-05-2011, 09:27 AM
have no interest in watching rebranded shell's racing around any track. That's why nascar is shit to watch.

just a different skin over the same baseline. wanna make it easy. make the pingpingpingpings racing go karts.

I'd have to agree with you on that. Its really gotten worse with trying to keep things on a level playing field, there is no more "this has more power but the other car is more agile better under brakes stuff."

AGIT8D
17-05-2011, 09:39 AM
Although the current cars are almost identical, at least they still look like your regular Holden/Ford. It would be a huge step to open the door for other manufacturers, and I'm not sure how best they'd do it. Certainly don't want it to end up like NASCAR as that is boring as bat shit.

Having cars out perform others in particular areas would make the racing a lot more interesting, and the easiest way they could achieve this is to avoid restricting them all to a particular chassis etc. Unfortunately I can't see them deregulating the sport and 'moving backwards'.

-Luke-
17-05-2011, 09:43 AM
"Body work must be substantially representative of the production car model, with aero parity maintained and bio composites will be introduced."

Aero parity? Are they really going to spend the time and $'s developing aero packages that substantially represent the production car model or one size fits all whack on a holden or ford Badge decal and hit the track? (Im leaning towards the later)

AGIT8D
17-05-2011, 09:50 AM
The holdens and fords currently have a different rear spoiler, so can we expect this to be uniform now as well?

Evman
17-05-2011, 10:09 AM
The body work and spoilers are already tailored to produce similar downdforce

Link (http://techw02.acp.com.au/wheels/site/articleIDs/C26B568E41815739CA257487000C5B9D)

-Luke-
17-05-2011, 10:12 AM
Dunno? I suppose the spoiler isnt a representation of the production model so who knows? Obviously aero performance should dictate the design but who knows?

regi
17-05-2011, 10:16 AM
keen to see a China brand compete!

RELEASE
17-05-2011, 10:27 AM
lost interest in the V8s a few years ago when the VE came into the series. rules dictated they couldnt run same specs as the road car so that there was parity. wheelbase, etc was reduced to suit the ford at the time.
suspension was thrown out from macpherson struts to double wishbone like the fords. same pads, same rotors, same suspensions, everything same same for parity and cost control
its half way on the road to nascar :(

TJ
17-05-2011, 10:32 AM
V8 Supercars were launched in 1993.

If you think that anything from about 1998 onwards was even remotely linked to your road car you would have to lay off the pipe.

Butcher
17-05-2011, 10:41 AM
Mark scaife vs twr V2 ?

Sell business in it's prime while it's still worth $$$ knowing that there is potential for the series to be shunned in 2013 when the COF get rolled out.

New car series flops due to passionate aussie fans loosing their brands identity,
series becomes un-profitable, investment company goes bust and cochrane and co offer to buy it back at bargain basement prices. They revert back to the current type of regs whist retaining the new manufacturers. ?

Jaak
17-05-2011, 10:47 AM
Bring back the day of australian touring cars , i would love to see mini cars take on heavy horses , or v8 vs turboed milk cartons , mixed field , power vs weight

-Luke-
17-05-2011, 10:58 AM
Mark scaife vs twr V2 ?

Sell business in it's prime while it's still worth $$$ knowing that there is potential for the series to be shunned in 2013 when the COF get rolled out.

New car series flops due to passionate aussie fans loosing their brands identity,
series becomes un-profitable, investment company goes bust and cochrane and co offer to buy it back at bargain basement prices. They revert back to the current type of regs whist retaining the new manufacturers. ?

[Tin Foil hat on]
sounds feasable :)

RELEASE
17-05-2011, 11:27 AM
V8 Supercars were launched in 1993.

If you think that anything from about 1998 onwards was even remotely linked to your road car you would have to lay off the pipe.oh i know since 1998 when the whole front splitter argument being advantageous more on the holden than fords with seton leading the push towards a more equal field, it started to veer away from the road car but these days its nothing like it apart from the appearance.

TJ
17-05-2011, 11:54 AM
End of the day, who cares?

DTM - massively modified cars, nothing like road going versions

BTCC - nothing like road going version - LPG powered 1.6l turbo focus?

JGTC - nothing like road going version

V8SC - nothing like road going version

You watch it for the close racing, nothing more.

Lonewolf
17-05-2011, 12:09 PM
V8SC lost all its appeal to me when they started using control stuff.
I prefer watching the utes which are still based on production versions

TJ
17-05-2011, 12:17 PM
How many SS Commodores or XR8 Falcons did you own before you became upset at them using control stuff?

Utes are parity controlled too fyi.

ForgedV6
17-05-2011, 12:37 PM
Although the current cars are almost identical, at least they still look like your regular Holden/Ford. It would be a huge step to open the door for other manufacturers, and I'm not sure how best they'd do it. Certainly don't want it to end up like NASCAR as that is boring as bat shit.

Spot on dude. My thoughts exactly.

I also wouldnt mind seeing other brands entering. A stock standard R35 would probably dominate so some form of restriction or standards accross the board would be needed.

I remember reading or hearding, the current HOLDEN V8 Supercar contains 6 genuine Holden parts and 23 genuine Ford parts. True or False? I dont know the answer.

Lonewolf
17-05-2011, 12:45 PM
How many SS Commodores or XR8 Falcons did you own before you became upset at them using control stuff?

Utes are parity controlled too fyi.

whens the last time you drove an F1 car?
Dont have to own one to want to watch them race.

The utes have some parity with regards to tyres and brakes etc, but the motors are completely different as are a lot of the other components.

TJ
17-05-2011, 12:46 PM
They run a Ford 9 inch diff, and all the associated bits at the least.

TJ
17-05-2011, 12:47 PM
whens the last time you drove an F1 car?
Dont have to own one to want to watch them race.

The utes have some parity with regards to tyres and brakes etc, but the motors are completely different as are a lot of the other components.

Thats my exact point Blake - why would you care about little things like parity if you dont even want to own one?

The racing is good, and kept as fair as possible.

RELEASE
17-05-2011, 12:54 PM
The utes have some parity with regards to tyres and brakes etc, but the motors are completely different as are a lot of the other components.this!
There is parity like controlled tyre, etc but at least they run the engine they came from factory, same chassis, etc etc. The utes are as close to a Group A styled championship as we are going to get i think

Lonewolf
17-05-2011, 01:06 PM
TJ: i find the technical aspect of racing important, the differences in engine type, tune, and other details that have been ruled out by V8SC.

I like to see that maybe the ford has better power down, but the holden has better top end power on the straights etc.

Imagine if F1 had all the cars running the same fucking engine.

GpA style would be even better with different engine configs, 4's,6's,8's etc.
You can have close racing without 100% parity of parts.

TheChad
17-05-2011, 01:16 PM
GpA style would be even better with different engine configs, 4's,6's,8's etc.
You can have close racing without 100% parity of parts.

untill godzilla comes out to play.

point is they cant make everyone happy.. sure it is still good to watch the old GpA races where it was a suped up family sedan vs nimble hot hatches etc. but at the end of the day it wasnt fair. would take a lot of work to make this series any different if the opened the doors.

i personally would love to see some different engines. fuck i dont care if they limit it to a certain HP and certain rev limit, with the exact same drivetrain from then on, would still make things interesting seeing a bmw v8 and toyota v8 vs holden and ford 8's, as opposed to two cars exactly the same with a little bit of sheet metal done slightly differently...

matty12
17-05-2011, 01:31 PM
i personally would love to see some different engines. fuck i dont care if they limit it to a certain HP and certain rev limit, with the exact same drivetrain from then on, would still make things interesting seeing a bmw v8 and toyota v8 vs holden and ford 8's, as opposed to two cars exactly the same with a little bit of sheet metal done slightly differently...

i think you would find it would be the same chassis and same engines ie a toyota would have a chevy engine it would be just the outside cover/shell that would be different.:zzz:

TJ
17-05-2011, 02:08 PM
TJ: i find the technical aspect of racing important, the differences in engine type, tune, and other details that have been ruled out by V8SC.

I like to see that maybe the ford has better power down, but the holden has better top end power on the straights etc.

Imagine if F1 had all the cars running the same fucking engine.

GpA style would be even better with different engine configs, 4's,6's,8's etc.
You can have close racing without 100% parity of parts.

Yeah - real close racing.

Take away the romance of Group A

http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/bathurst_1990.htm

Look at the differences in qualifying times.
Real close when the lead car is 2 seconds quicker than anything else.

As I said before, the utes are parity controlled. The holdens are rev limited to produce the same power to weight as the Ford.

In V8's, you still need to have incredible technical prowess to setup the car better than the next guy.

And getting it wrong by .4 of a second means you are 25th and not 9th.

Lonewolf
17-05-2011, 03:15 PM
No denying that there is still skill in setting up any car to race, even more so in a parity controlled race.
I still find it much more interesting when there is variety of cars.

The old GT championships were much more interesting to me with evo's/sti's/beemers/HSV all battling it out.

ED40
17-05-2011, 03:20 PM
Spot on dude. My thoughts exactly.

I also wouldnt mind seeing other brands entering. A stock standard R35 would probably dominate so some form of restriction or standards accross the board would be needed.

I remember reading or hearding, the current HOLDEN V8 Supercar contains 6 genuine Holden parts and 23 genuine Ford parts. True or False? I dont know the answer.

are u trying to say a stock 35gtr would dominatr a v8sc? gtr would get flogged. i agree with most v8sc is boring. :)

zeroyon
17-05-2011, 03:28 PM
I'd really like to see a series open to all cars sold in aus with upgraded gearbox, clutch, suspension, brakes, tyres and safetly. Orginal body, panels, engine block and head must remain. Also no adding turbos/nos/super to a car that had none.

Control things like tyres and min weights would be good to keep it even.

Also given the world we live in a max size fuel tank would be great. Forcing some economy decisions vs pit stops.

*I can dream though eh .....

zeroyon
17-05-2011, 03:28 PM
Oh and I would be happy to see a car dominate a year, if its that much better then everyone else just has to catch up.

sprint347
17-05-2011, 06:26 PM
Love him or hate him Tony Cochrane has helped build a massive business from the humble ATCC category.

V8SC works because it capitalises on the age old Holden vs Ford rivalry that's been running for years, whilst maintaining some sort of parity between the two makes.

If they allowed Holden to run the 6+ litre LSx engines against the 5.0 Windsor or 5.4 Boss there would have been no contest, the Ford followers would have turned off the TV and that would have been the end of the class.

Sticking with 9" diffs, Hollingers and 5.0 based engines has kept costs minimal and has ensured weights and power outputs are on a similar plane.

I don't think opening the category to other manufacturers will be of any benefit, in fact I think it'd do just the opposite. 'Aussies' don't want to watch 'true' road cars race, the popularity (or lack thereof) of the GT Production car series demonstrates this.

If I owned the sport all I'd do is lift the displacement limit from 302ci to 350/351ci and raise the rev limit from 7500rpm to 8000rpm to liven things up a bit. I'd also enforce a 50/50 split of Holden and Ford with handing out franchise licenses.

TJ
17-05-2011, 06:47 PM
Enforcing the split would be hard when Ford keeps spending less and less on the sport.

Passage GT
17-05-2011, 07:01 PM
stopped watching the v8s years ago, even bathurst..
give me the muscle car masters and similar series any day of the week, these need to be promoted more and given tv coverage!

sprint347
17-05-2011, 07:04 PM
Agree totally TJ, it's a joke when the official Ford Racing site has Steve Richards and James Courtney listed as drivers.

AGIT8D
17-05-2011, 07:04 PM
Guess I'm against the grain, I still love the V8s :)

sprint347
17-05-2011, 07:09 PM
Guess I'm against the grain, I still love the V8s :)

Don't get me wrong, I still go to Barbagallo and watch Bathurst every year. I'm just not as much as a diehard as I was 15 years ago, those were the days with Bowe/Seton/Brock/Gardner etc.

2jzlux
17-05-2011, 07:23 PM
V8's are shit these days, needs to go back to production based racing with different brands who gives a fuck if one car wins all the time, if there is crashes people will watch it.
Anyway i predict if they let anyone else in the series ie toyota/lexus or mercedes they will just drown holden and ford with their cash and the series will go to shit in 2-3 years.

TJ
17-05-2011, 07:36 PM
Guess I'm against the grain, I still love the V8s :)

No not really.

Tv numbers are up, numbers at tracks are up.

I took a lull in the sport for a couple of years, but have been watching this year.

Rich
17-05-2011, 08:29 PM
I'd really like to see a series open to all cars sold in aus with upgraded gearbox, clutch, suspension, brakes, tyres and safetly. Orginal body, panels, engine block and head must remain. Also no adding turbos/nos/super to a car that had none.

Control things like tyres and min weights would be good to keep it even.

Also given the world we live in a max size fuel tank would be great. Forcing some economy decisions vs pit stops.

*I can dream though eh .....

+1

control tyres, fuel, min weight, retain std engine config and open it up to all manufacturers. if the V8s get flogged then its time they stepped up their game.

joshg123
17-05-2011, 09:04 PM
+1

control tyres, fuel, min weight, retain std engine config and open it up to all manufacturers. if the V8s get flogged then its time they stepped up their game.

And then the manufacturers start developing and releasing homolgation only specials again, like the old WRC days in the 80's and 90's.

If i want to watch nascar, i watch american nascar. Even Craig Lowndes has said they are very much nascars, just with steel panels and working lights.

I stopped watching after the vx days

Scaf
18-05-2011, 05:20 AM
I also lost interest in V8SC a long time ago, reminds me to much of Nascar.

As said I think they need to open te gates to manufacturers, and only control power/weight, fuel and tyres. Bring back the hemoglobin days of back in the late 80's, forcing manufacturers to produce actual 'performance' cars.

AGIT8D
18-05-2011, 07:40 AM
No not really.

Tv numbers are up, numbers at tracks are up.

I took a lull in the sport for a couple of years, but have been watching this year.

Haha I meant as far as the AL community was considered, not Aus wide. An investment firm wouldn't pay over $300Mn for the series if it was tanking haha.

It seems like most people here think it's a has been, I enjoy it as much as ever, especially after attending my first race this year. Next-a-step? Bathurst!

TJ
18-05-2011, 07:51 AM
Tv coverage isnt perfect, but its pretty good.

Plenty of biffo and drama if you are so inclined

Tons of close tight racing, especially when they mix the soft tyre in.

Joe
18-05-2011, 08:24 AM
I actually don't give a fuck what happens, as long as they're allowed to do skids after the race.

If this rule doesn't revert back, I won't watch.