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Tag Archive | "Tony Cochrane"
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
The 2012 V8 Supercar event around the streets of Hamilton in New Zealand will be the last. In another blow to the categories dreams of global expansion, Hamilton now joins Shanghai and Bahrain in failed overseas jaunts by the championship. According to the local Waikato Times newspaper, many local businesses are happy to see the back of the visitors from across the Tasman. "It has been a waste of time and money," Evelyn Booth, owner of the Bag Factory Shop told the paper. "We lose money when it's on, customers too, and we are going to be paying for it for a very long time." The council had "completely and utterly" let down the town, she said. The move to axe the race came at the request of V8 Supercars Australia after they took over the running of the event when the original promoter went broke. Acting V8 Supercars Australia chief executive Shane Howard met with the Hamilton City Council last Wednesday night, offering the council $1.2 million dollars to end the contract early. Local ratepayers had paid around $31.4m for the event including $9m worth of race infrastructure. These are now owned by V8 Supercars as a part of their deal for taking over the race.
Continue reading...IN PIT LANE Podcast “A Chat with Martin Whitaker”
Thursday, May 19, 2011
V8 Supercar CEO Martin Whitaker joins us for a chat about the Car of the future, International expansion, New Manufacturers and TV Rights.
Continue reading...ANOTHER POM TAKING OUR JOBS
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Former Director of Motorsport at Ford and current Bahrain International Circuit CEO Martin Whitaker, is the new CEO of V8 Supercars Australia. The appointment of the highly respected sports administrator will be seen as a major boost in the profile and credibility of the category in the International motorsport scene. Making the announcement V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said that Whitaker's signing "is an outstanding testimony to the size and quality of our business and our sport." “Martin will join an excellent management team and help build the sport throughout Australia, the Pacific, Asia and the Indian sub continents.” he said.
Continue reading...A1 GOLD COAT GP: THE FARCE IS OVER (for now)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The charade is over. Only two days before they were scheduled to test at Queensland raceway and a week before the first race the A1 GP on the Gold Coast has been terminated. The Queensland Government will now showcase the popular tourist venue to the World via four 150 km V8 Supercar races. SuperGP General Manager Greg Hooton said that whilst it was obviously disappointing that GCMEC has had to terminate the contract with A1GP, plans have been put in place to ensure a full, new-look, program when the 2009 Nikon SuperGP commences next Thursday October 22. “GCMEC and the Minister have worked with V8 Supercars, to develop the new race program which will now be rolled out at the event,” said Hooton.
Continue reading...A1GP: AND NOW THE END IS NEAR ?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Just days after confirming October's Gold Coast street race as the opening round of the 2009-2010 season the future of A1GP is in doubt again after its British arm collapsed last Wednesday. According to the British newspaper the Telegraph the British operation has been wound up leaving several suppliers unpaid and a staff of about 40 looking for new jobs. A spokesperson for the company A1 Grand Prix Operations Limited said: “Like many other companies in today's difficult economic environment, we had cashflow problems and we haven't been able to pay them (the suppliers).“ 2009 is the fourth year of the A1GP which was founded by Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum. He left the group as a part of a major financial restructuring which was to have included floating the company on the London Stock Exchange. Unattributed sources said that current A1GP CEO, South African businessman Tony Teixiera. had said that it was possible that current British workers could be reemployed through other arms of the organisation. The collapse of the British Operations division, who are responsible for the day to day running of the series is just the latest in a long line of financial concerns regarding the series. Just where this may leave the promoters of the “Nitro” Super GP is anybody's guess as the Queensland Government has previously said that it was not interested in supporting the event unless it had a substantial International component. V8 Supercar boss Tony Cochrane has suggested openly on several occasions that he believed the event would soon become a V8 Supercar only affair.
Continue reading...MOTORSPORT JOINS THE BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FIGHT
Friday, February 13, 2009
Australia's Motorsport community has joined the rest of the nation in supporting the victims of the terrible bushfires that as we go to press continue to race across Victoria. At this time over 180 people are confirmed dead with many others missing or seriously injured. Young Victorian Drifter Luke Jacobs and his parents Alan and Miros Jacobs as well as Luke's close friend BMX rider Nathan Charles all lost their lives at the Jacobs family home in Koornalla. “This is a horrible tragedy and they will be sorely missed.” said Drift Australia’s Wayne Boatwright. Several Victorian state rally competitors lost business and homes in the inferno that swept across the ranges at a stunning speed fanned by 46 degree temperatures and gale force winds. V8 Supercars Australia joined other professional sporting groups across the country in announcing a $100000 donation to the national appeal while V8 stars, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander and Will Davison gave their time in a nationally televised appeal that raised over $20 million. “As a sport we are doing what we can with this donation and the other initiatives announced today" said V8 Supercar Chairman Tony Cochrane. "We urge our fan base throughout Australia to contribute to this extremely worthwhile cause.” V8 Supercars Australia CEO Cameron Levick said that all proceeds from the annual test day at Winton Motor Raceway on March 9 would also be donated to the relief fund. Queensland Raceway, which has a test day on March 11, will donate all it's gate takings to the North Queensland Flood Appeal. Jamie Whincup said he was devastated by the fires in an area so close to where he grew up. “Personally I am in a state of shock - having grown up only 15 minutes from the Whittlesea Relief Centre; I enjoyed much of my recreational time in the King Lake district and have many of my relatives, friends and fans located in the fire affected area. “I have today personally donated $1,000 to the appeal and call upon my fellow V8 Supercar drivers to match that amount. If we can all do this that will equate to an additional $30,000 on top of the $100,000 V8 Supercars have donated as our sports governing body."
Continue reading...HONDA OUT, AUDI CUT BACK. WHO’S NEXT!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Honda's decision to leave Formula One is just an early taste of the schism about to hit international motorsport worldwide. As the US based sub-prime economic meltdown hits, Honda will be the first of many to reassess the wisdom of spending millions of dollars on cars going round and round in circles. Already major NASCAR teams are laying off staff and as the US big three put out the begging bowl to US taxpayers one wonders how any sensible Government will view any public funds being ploughed into things like NASCAR, NHRA and the American Le Mans Series. In the week when Audi announced its commitment to building a new diesel powered sports prototype for Le Mans, they also announced a complete pull out from both the European Le Mans series and the ALMS. Toyota, who have probably the biggest exposure of all the Japanese car makers to the collapsing US economy have issued a statement saying that they remain committed to F1. No, sorry that is “currently” committed to F1. Unlike Honda, Toyota have had some limited success at F1 level and also unlike Honda they have the backing of a major naming rights sponsor in Panasonic. But their press release does give very clear indication that unless ways are found to dramatically cut the huge cost of F1 then they too could be the next to go.
Continue reading...SUPPORT GROWS FOR DTM GOLD COAST RACE
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Drivers in the popular DTM (German Touring Car Masters) have thrown their support behind Tony Cochrane's call for the series to replace the Indy Racing League on the Gold Coast. While most Australian media feel that Cochrane's call was a bit of publicity seeking mischief making, current DTM stars competing in this weekend's Hockenheim final are enthusiastically backing the idea. Speaking to the German website motorsport-total.com, drivers said they would love the chance to take to the streets of Surfers Paradise. “That would be fantastic ! It would be great to go overseas, said Mercedes driver Paul di Resta. “It (The DTM) is perhaps the greatest Touring Car Championship in the World. I believe we have the best cars. It would be great to show the Australians what great cars we have.” he said.
Continue reading...A1GP READY TO FILL THE GOLD COAST BEACH…UH, BREACH
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The A1GP series has approached organisers of the Gold Coast Indy car race expressing an interest in replacing the Indy cars should they decide not to return next year. Speaking to the local newspaper “The Sunday Mail”, former World Formula One Champion and A1GP team franchise holder Alan Jones said that the self proclaimed World Cup of Motorsport was eager to fill the breach should the American based Indy series pull out. “I have made no secret of the fact that we would love to take their place,“ said Jones. “Our cars lap three to four seconds quicker than the IRL cars going around the Gold Coast this weekend, We have 25 countries competing,... and many of the countries are in the preferred trading area for Australia – Asia and the Middle East.“ Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has said that an International Openwheel event was crucial to the events future but few International series of any note have shown interest in the Australian market with the exception of A1GP.
Continue reading...OPPOSITION GROWS TO SYDNEY V8 RACE
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A who's who of Australian motorsport has signed a petition in support of improvements to the Eastern Creek circuit over the recently announced Homebush Olympic Park Sydney Street Race. Racing legends led four-time Australian Touring Car champions Allan Moffat (a member of the ARDC which currently runs the circuit) and Bob Jane are among the signatories on a petition presented to the NSW government calling for greater investment at Eastern Creek. Other signatories include former touring car champions Colin Bond, John Bowe and Glenn Seton, as well as Bathurst 1000 winners John French, John Harvey, Barry Seaton and Bob Holden.
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Friday, September 30, 2011
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