V8 POWERED SUPERUTES 2021 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
V8 powered SuperUtes 2021 schedule announced – Image: InSyde Media
The 2021 SuperUtes calendar will kick off at Tailem Bend in May 2021 with a grand finale at the Repco Bathurst 1000, playing a supporting role at five Supercars events in a reinvigorated championship thanks to new V8 engines.
By DAMION SMY
The SuperUtes series will return with vigour after a COVID-induced hiatus in 2020 thanks to the addition of V8-power, after the category announced it would ditch the diesel engines used previously.
“The three key pillars of the new formula are entertainment, desire and affordability,” said Luke Sieders, series co-owner from Sieders Racing Team. “Starting with entertainment, we’ve listened to the fans and dropped in a 6.2L LS3 V8 engine, along with a new wheel and tyre package.”
The changes have proven an instant hit with a stronger entry list for the revitalised category, which is still to announce a naming rights series sponsor for the new season.
“We struggled to get 10 utes on track back in the day,” Sieders told Auto Action.
“We’re envisaging 16 utes at the first race, but we’re hoping to receive of confirmation a seventeenth and even eighteenth shortly, so the numbers are just going to grow.”
For 2021, the Tailem Bend opener in South Australia will see the larger field of dual-cab utes from six different manufacturers join Supercars events at Sydney Motorsport Park, Perth, and finally Bathurst, with a fifth venue in May still to be confirmed.
Cameron Crick, who took four pole positions and six race wins in 2019 – beaten only by Ryal Harris with seven victories – is set to be on the grid, as well as George Gutierrez in the ex-Team 18 Holden Colorado purchased from Charlie Schwerkolt.
The move away from diesels was enabled after Supercars stepped back from controlling the category, with the switch to V8s – supported by Supercars – initiated following widespread criticism and a lack of enthusiasm for the diesel-powered SuperUtes from fans and competitors alike.
The fresh focus on reducing costs, both in the build and ongoing race-weekend preparation, sees the control TR6060 gearbox continue along with revised control braking and suspension set-ups, with the new control Warspeed-tuned 6.2L V8 and its 400hp the final piece of the puzzle.
Not only does the V8 develop more power and, in theory, provide more entertaining racing, it also improves parity, is cheaper to maintain and brings a raft of other benefits.
“We’ve got a package together now that we’ve literally been shipping category spec engines out the door,” Sieders said.
“We’ve got several engines that we’ve sent to competitors to start installing in their utes over Christmas, and we’ve got another half-a-dozen engines sitting there ready to go to the engine shop to be specced up for the next phase.”
In addition to cost advantages, the new control V8 delivers a significantly faster lap time across all circuits, better drivability and a crowd-pleasing exhaust note. Combined, the new formula appears to bring a much more convincing support category for the Supercars going into 2021.
“We’re committed to Supercars, and Supercars seem very committed to us,” Sieders added.
“We see ourselves as the category that, hopefully, will have the fans standing on the fence wanting to watch and be engaged with because these SuperUtes are going to be loud, they’re going to be fast.”
2021 V8 SuperUtes Provisional Calendar
1. OTR SuperSprint | 7-8 May 2021
2. TBA | May 2021
3. Sydney SuperNight | 20-22 August 2021
4. Perth SuperNight | 11-12 September 2021
5. Repco Bathurst 1000 | 7-10 October 2021
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
