V8 Utes Back on V8 Supercar Program in 2014

The Australian V8 Ute Racing Series 2014 calendar, announced yesterday following the launch of the 2014 Clipsal 500, will see the series take in five states and one Territory – South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory – as the key support category to the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

V8 Ute Category Manager Craig Denyer, of SPHERIX, is really pleased with next year’s program. 

“We are really looking forward to the 2014 season. The calendar pretty much mirrors this year, which saw us cover the majority of the country, and on all the primary V8 Supercar events,” said Denyer. 

The Clipsal 500 will kick off the opening Round for the 14th year in a row. The V8 Utes had their inaugural race there in 2001 and are an integral part of the Adelaide event. Tickets are already available for the Clipsal 500. 

The V8 Utes will return to Barbagallo Raceway for the second Round of the Series. This will be the third year in a row and the fifth outing to the Western State, which has produced the likes of two-time V8 Ute Champion Grant Johnson and current drivers, Rhys McNally, Adam Marjoram, and Todd Zani and adopted resident Matt Nolan. 

The V8 Utes will turn up the heat in the top end for Round Three of the Series, as part of the SKYCITY Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway, and will make their fifth appearance at the Townsville street race since its inception in 2009. 

Sandown Raceway will be the half-way point of the 2014 Series. The V8 Utes first appeared at Sandown Raceway in their inaugural year in 2001, then again in 2002, 2005, 2009 and 2010 and again last year.  2002 was the Great Aussie Ute Race, a two driver format with each driver paired with a legend, some of which included three-time Australian Gold Star Champion Paul Stokell, Touring Car Legend Andrew Miedecke, Country Singer Adam Brand, Brad Jones, and Formula One World Champion (1980) Alan Jones.

For Round Six the V8 Utes will head to the home of Motorsport, Mount Panorama as part of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event. The historical circuit always produces great V8 Ute racing and some magical moments, including this year when Ryan Hansford stood on the podium 20 years after his late father, Gregg Hansford, won the great race back in 1993 alongside Larry Perkins. Tony Longhurst hung up his helmet for the last time, retiring from full-time racing after his final V8 Ute Race.

The Penultimate Round will once again be held around the streets of Surfers Paradise at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600. This will be the V8 Utes ninth visit to the Sunshine City and the fourth time on the new track, which is now 2.96km in length, reduced from 4.47km. Gold Coaster Ryal Harris set a new lap record this year in a time of 1min25.51, the only driver to set it on the old and new track. 

The Series will end the year on the streets of Sydney as part of the Sydney 500. The V8 Utes have crowned four Champions at Sydney Olympic Park in the past 13 years and are about to crown their fifth in the coming weeks during the final round of the 2013 Series.

Click here for the full V8 Supercars 2014 calendar.