New rule to break V8 speed barrier

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is a V8 Supercar hurtling down Conrod straight at 310km/h. The Mount Panorama speed record could be blitzed this year with V8 Supercars considering allowing teams concessions that could see them blast past 300km/h.

The V8 teams met last week and discussed using lower diff ratios that will let the high-powered machines wind out to record breaking speeds down Bathurst’s famous Conrod Straight. Currently, the V8 Supercars nudge 300km/h down the iconic piece of road that officials modified with a kink in 1987 following a racing fatality. 

Conrod Straight was deemed too fast, and too dangerous. But with increased safety and technical improvements to the V8 Supercars, officials are considering letting the beasts run wild this year in a move that will add grunt and guts to the showcase events.

You can bet fans will be turning out at 4am to secure a spot along straight should the proposal receive the green light from new chief executive James Warburton. It has already been agreed teams will start practice using the standing ratio, but officials may call a switch at any time due if some of the new generation cars spend too much time on the 'limiter', putting additional strain on the gear box. 

For safety reasons, to limit top end speed, all V8 Supercars are limited to 7500rpm, but that should be easily reached on the trip back down the mountain. Already the cars just touch 300km/h in the right conditions, but generally maximum speed is just under that.

The average speed at one of the world’s most spectacular race tracks is a staggering 178km/h. The extra speed would mean the race lap record of Jamie Whincup (2min 08. 4651sec) will be under genuine threat, as will Greg Murphy’s famous "Lap of the Gods" Top Ten Shootout lap of 2:06. 8594) set in 2003, with the new generation cars consistently faster in qualifying at the Sandown event.

The Erebus Motorsport V8 Mercedes outfit, with their dominant powerplant, would also benefit greatly should the 'drop box' be used in the race. The Mercedes cars are already tipped to dominate across the top of the Mountain with their sheer brute strength, while fellow newcomers Nissan have superior handling and cornering but are battling for consistent straight line speed.

To help the newcomers and their different style of engine to Ford and Holden, officials have mandated a minimum of seven pit stops for the main race.  This is designed to help overcome the fact the quad-cam engines use more fuel, hence they need to stop more and stop for longer to refuel over long-distance events.