The rumour mill on this proposed series has been running for some time now and finally the design of a prototype car has been completed in Australia, with the first complete unit built.
In a matter of weeks the test vehicle will leave Australia headed for SA where it will undergo a series of track tests on local circuits. As the year progresses, a further 16 customer cars will will be built, with a maximum of 20 envisaged for the 2014 racing series. Provisional orders have already been placed for a number of cars, with delivery expected to start in November this year. This year will be used to establish and test the cars on local circuits, while a racing series should be launched by March, 2014.
All vehicles will be technologically identical, using the same platform, suspension, gearbox, brakes, roll cage units and tyres. All components under the skin will be standardised, but designed to accept various manufacturers’ body shells, according to customer needs. The current designs include an Audi (pictured) and a Ford. All of the cars will weigh the same and boast V8 engines producing a maximum power output of 410 kW.
Head of VMP Racing, Vic Maharaj, has confirmed that he will be running cars in the series. “This is the formula that South African motorsport has been waiting for,” Maharaj said.
“I have known chief designer Paul Ceprnich since we worked together on local Super Touring cars in the nineties. He is a brilliant engineer, who has since been involved with projects like BMW’s Le Mans winning sports car. He was responsible for the design of the current Australian V8 Supercar. His design is nothing short of world class.”
The local series has been sanctioned with South African motorsport controlling body MSA as the V8 Touring Car Series.
Series boss Michael Formato said that orders for V8 Touring Cars are currently being taken, with enquiries coming from a wide range of current South African competitors.
“With each car ordered comes a franchise to run it in the series. Only 20 franchises will be sold in 2014, with the number likely to expand in the next year,” Formato concluded.