Jfr / Kmart

[BSB]

This article came from the official Holden Motorsport site.

www.holdenmotorsport.com

John Faulkner Racing has contracted with TWR Australia to enter two Holden Commodores under the Kmart Racing banner for the next three years.

Team owner John Faulkner will be responsible for the team's operations, with TWR supplying the cars, associated componentry, equipment, facilities, drivers and personnel for the years 2003, 04 and 05.

"This will be a big boost for my franchise and I'm looking forward to seeing some V8 Supercar trophies on my mantlepiece as soon as possible," an excited Faulkner said about the deal.

"The decision to contract with TWR hasn't been an overnight one, but I've come to the conclusion that I needed to acquire the benefit of extra expertise and broaden my operations if I am to seriously challenge the sport's leading teams," he said.

[Grubby]

Whose franchise are the KMart cars running under this season - 2002 ?

[mustang1966]

Does that mean TWR still runs 5 cars all up or are we going to see 7 TWR cars running next year.

[Grubby]

This is why I am inmterested to know who's franchise KMart are using now.

I didn't think TWR had 2 franchise's

Grubby

[BSB]

Not 100% sure on this, but i think KRT was run under the HRT franchise as is the HYL Team.

Maybe admin can shed some light on this.


Don't be suprised to see CAT and HYL as a 2 car team to replace Kmart

[brchi17]

K-mart will be racing in 2003 with its' current driver line up.

Know for a fact that there will be at least 6 TWR cars on the track next year. contracts for sponsorship of the 6th car was signed last week.

also,

HYL going to race Konica - 90% sure

know nothing regarding the CAT / Bright suggestion

[Grubby]

This is all very interesting.

They currently have 5 contracted drivers with now one more to come onboard. Any guess's as to who the 6th driver will be ?

Also if the HYL is going into the Konica series - who are the sponsors of the 2 other TWR cars ?

Grubby

[Rob]

Kmart in 2001 ran under Romano franchise and this year TWR fought and
won the right to run all 5 under the TWR banner. The rules are expected
to change next year with each Level1 franchise coming with 2 car spots and Level 2 with 1 car grid spot. Team Brock, for example, need to find another franchise to run a second car next year, just like TWR have had to do to run HRT, KMT and HYL in 2003.

The CAT/Bright rumour is just that, a rumour.
As for CAT replacing Kmart, that is 100% incorrect.
Kmart will be gridding up again until 2005.

[brchi17]

I DON'T KNOW WHO THE 6TH DRIVER IS (TIP IS TWR WANT TO KEEP NATHAN PRETTY), HOWEVER IT WILL CARRY SPONSORSHIP FROM AN ALL NEW SPONSOR AS WELL AS EXISTING ONES. AS TO THE % OF SPONSORS & LEVERIES THEY ARE STILL NOT KNOWN.
CAN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING AS I WILL GET IN DEEP, DEEP S#@T IF I DO.

[monaro]

There is a story about this arrangment with JFR in the new Motorsport News magazine. I only browsed through it at the newsagent so i'm not really sure what it said about it but it did have an article about a possible switch of teams for Craig Lowndes. Ford is said to be unhappy with the results of 00 motorsport so he could be going to Stone Brothers next year. I think it's a bit dodgy when a driver can't even decide what team he drives for and has his career decided for him by the brand he drives for. Just my opinion so all you Lowndes fans don't get to upset.:D

[lindsay]

It is about time Tony cochrane put his foot down & only allowed one company to own one franchise , be it a 1 or a 2 car team . Why should one company (TWR) be able to own 3 to 4 franchises and run up to seven cars.
With grid limits at 32 cars this means that eventually smaller teams are going to loose their chances to run a race car.
You don't see Ferrari or Maclaren run 2 or 3 teams in the F1.
Maybe AVESCO should be more interested in what the diehard fans of the sport would like to see , not what the man with the most money wants.
Next we will be watching the TWR V8 SUPERCARS SERIES.
Dont get me wrong I like both Murph & Skaifie but I dont realy want to go to a V8 Supercar round to watch races where one bloke owns half of the field

[Rob]

Lindsey I understand your arguement and to a certain degree I agree.
But if it weren't for TWR the likes of Murphy, the Kelly boys and Kmart
would most likely be lost to V8 Supercars. I know you'll say that the
various parties would find alternatives, but it's not that simple, the
commercial realities of today's racing just wouldn't allow it.

So sureTWR have more money, more cars, more data than anyone else,
but there is nothing stopping, say a DJR, from doing exactly the same.
TWR are just exploiting the rules to the max and to there advantage,
which is what competition is all about.

TWR are simply providing the likes of Murphy, the Kelly boys and Kmart
with the opportunity to compete at a higher level then what they would
realistically be able to do anywhere else.

[lindsay]

Rob I understand what you are saying , but at the end of the day there are guys running in the Konica Series that would most probably like to run in the Supercar Series but cant because it is already being over run.
Isn't there an old saying that variety is the spice of life.
I cant see why you couldn't have a system where each owner is offered a 2 car franchise , then if there are any positions left whoever wanted to run two or more teams would have their oppitunity to do so.
Other than that extend the grids back to higher numbers .

[BATHURSTFAN]

Rob,

I don't think it's as easy as "DJR COULD DO THE SAME", if it was that easy everybody would be trying to do it and imagine the mess that would occur. Imagine the logistics to it all, getting the sponsors dollar, the current facilities being able to accomodate the extra cars, getting decents drivers etc.

I know you used DJR as an example. A team owner should not be allowed to have so many cars where they can share information from all those other cars, this gives them an advantage. Plus it does keep other people of the competition.

Due to the restricted testing days, TWO CAR TEAMS try different components on the other cars and share that data, THIS IS WHERE TWO CAR TEAMS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER A ONE CAR TEAM, these days thats a big help.

Glenn

[Rob]

Bathurst Fan

I don't believe I mentioned it being "easy" for DJR or anyone else to do
a TWR and run more than 2 cars. I simply was making the point that any other team has the opportunity (depending on sponsorship etc) to do the same and as the rules stand TWR are right to exploit them.

I am not a spokesperson for TWR nor do I agree/disagree with what they
are doing, but it has allowed the likes of Kmart to keep their committment
to our sport instead of another, keeping me in business for a while longer.

What I find amazing is how this same tactic used by TWR is being used by both Perkins and Briggs Motorsport, yet they seem to be able to go about there daily business without anyone having a problem with it.

Double Standards????

[Grubby]

I have to agree with Rob's comments. All teams have the opportunity to run extra cars under the current rules / regulations.
Some choose to while others don't. TWR have chosen to take this risk ( there is some risk when trying to build / maintain and race 5 cars ......plus the sponsors dollars..they need to be kept happy ).

This decision has proven to be very successful and this is the only reason why everyone seems to be complaining about it. If Perkins or Briggs for example were having better seasons people would see them as having a so-called unfair advantage.

Also with the TWR situation I would rather see TWR running extra cars and keeping the talent of the likes of Murphy & Kelly in our sport ( V8 Supercars ) rather than have them have to race elsewhere.

Grubby

[BATHURSTFAN]

If the drivers are good enough, as Murphy & Kelly are, then I don't think they would be "lost to race elsewhere" .

Rob, I did not say you said it was "easy", I did as a figure of speech in remark to your "nothing stopping DJR doing the same", nor did i mention any specific team such as TWR when i was talking about multiple car teams.

My opinion is that no team should have 4 or 5 cars that keep others out of the competition or may give a team an advantage.

After all they are always talking about parity, this should include off the track as well.

Grubby, all teams don't have the opportunity to do the same as where will they fit on the track and in pit row and there has to be a limit of sponsors money etc that can be shared around.

I was making a point across the board.

Glenn

[loste_treasures]

Hmmmm....i find this very curious and amusing....

I thought id better add to the debate and turn the heat up (so to speak)

I wonder if the Ford Teams did the same thing would we still be complaining???

Or is it the current Ford fans winging again that Holden Teams(s) are doing so good????

Either way TWR is not doing anything illegal. If they were then they wouldnt be here.

And despite what some other people have said, YES it is easy for some Ford teams to do the same. Just because TWR are busness savvy does not mean they should be penalised.

[BATHURSTFAN]

Loste Treasures.

1. - where has this thread been a Ford/Holden debate?, it has been about one team (TWR) having so many cars.

2. Who is whinging, this is a forum isn't it?

3. Who said that TWR is acting illegally?, some people have made comments for and against the rules.

4. If its that "easy", then why doesn't everybody do it and not just TWR - including other Ford & Holden teams.

[wacpt]

Onthe parity issue, I have a couple of points to make on my interpretation. The information I have is from the V8X Magazine, so I can't be sure it's 100% accurate but here goes.
1. Body width, roof height, length, wheelbase and tracks to be the same (ford & holden)
2. Commodore front suspension to be same design as Ford (double wishbone)
3. Shock absorber points to be the same.
4. Rear suspension, diff position to be the same (based on Holdens)
5. Engine location as per Ford
6. Driver's seat position as per Ford
7. Holden engine brought UP TO ford specs.

Ford positioning, and front suspension were chosen as these are judged as being superior to Holdens.

My question is, why are the Ford guys *****ing about parity if their cars are judged a better design?????

[loste_treasures]

Originally posted by BATHURSTFAN
Loste Treasures.

1. - where has this thread been a Ford/Holden debate?, it has been about one team (TWR) having so many cars.

2. Who is whinging, this is a forum isn't it?

3. Who said that TWR is acting illegally?, some people have made comments for and against the rules.

4. If its that "easy", then why doesn't everybody do it and not just TWR - including other Ford & Holden teams.

To reply to your 4 points:

1. i didnt state that this was a Ford/Holden debate. Im simply stating that if you did a poll you will find that most of the comments that have been made are coming from disgruntled Ford fans who are sick and tired of TWR winning.....

2. yes, this is a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions. however when you get people contiously stating that TWR have done this or done that or hate it when TWR are constantly winning then i consider that to be winging. if not in this post, then in previous posts that ive looked at. it also does not do their credentials any good when in their 'custom signature' they have something like "go fords'' or something similar.

3. there hasnt been anyone stating that TWR are doing anything illegall, or at least said that outright. i have the feeling that people are stating that TWR are 'bending' the rules to their advantage.

4. why doesnt everyone do that? good question. maybe you should ask them that same question. better still ask their accountants or financial advisors

For the record, im a Holden fan. Not a 'fanatical' one, just a normal one.

Lets ask the same question to the others......

[wacpt]

I'm a FANATICAL holden fan, and would love to see one of the other Holdens win, but the fact is HRT are doing it better than the rest, whether it be because of their finacnces, or their team members, they are in the groove. They understand the rules and know how far they can go before they break them.
Don't ***** about them because they MIGHT be bending the rules, if they were, they would have been caught out by now surely.