Sweeping changes to add spice

Changes to the format of the V8 Supercar championship will take effect next year.

I have had a crack at calling for changes to the V8 Supercars Championship in previous columns.

Well, it looks as if we're on the money with many of the changes, such as spicing up the racing and having a more condensed calendar, looking likely to come into reality.

There is a buzz around the V8 paddock that sweeping changes will be made to the championship next year, plans which I'm led to believe were presented to the board at the category headquarters at Southport yesterday.

There is talk that the three-heat format has been given the boot and will be replaced with two heats at the smaller rounds like Queensland Raceway at Ipswich, which starts with practice today.

From the talk going around the series at the moment, it also looks like we'll go to E85 blended ethanol fuel next year.

V8 Supercars have the opportunity to show the public ethanol is not, as many perceive it to be, a low-performance fuel.

There's also a perception that it's bad for modern engines with their associated sophisticated electronic systems, but that is simply not the case.

The big plus with adapting E85 is that it's better for the environment.

The fact that there is likely to be a change in the format at sprint rounds, which I believe will include 2x200km races, is a good development.

Change is good because the last thing you want to be doing is running the same formula year in, year out.

There is also strong mail that some three-day meetings will be cut to two days in the interests of cutting costs, which essentially is a smart move.

The switch to 2x200km races in place of the 3x120km style, which will be the case at Queensland Raceway this weekend, presents a few problems from a technical point of view.

The fuel range in our cars is good for a maximum of about 200km. Therefore it is almost certain we will not make it to the finish without having a fuel stop.

The promise that the break between rounds in 2009 will be reduced is a positive step and one which I've called for previously in this column.

It's a big plus for us, the teams, but most importantly it's better for you guys — the fans.