Split enduro driver rule divides a nation
Will Davison and Garth Tander won the 2009 Bathurst 1000 – but they won't be able to defend their title together in 2010
V8 Supercars Australia’s new-for-2010 split endurance driver rule has divided a nation – literally!
On December 10, the V8 Supercars board passed a rule that primary V8 drivers would not be allowed be paired together in the twin-driver endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
The announcement caused a huge stir in the industry and the greater public, evoking emotion that is usually reserved for ‘Ford versus Holden’ warfare.
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Speedcafe.com.au started a reader’s poll on Dec 11 (the day that V8 Supercars confirmed the new rule), and after 2000 unique voters cast their thoughts, the result is almost a dead heat!
At 10.30am this morning (24 days after the poll started), 1002 people had voted against the rule, with 998 voting for it.
V8’s implemented the rule to force primary drivers to stay in their own cars, making teams find the best possible co-driver for their regular driver.
At Bathurst last year, nine entries featured two regular drivers, with five of them finishing in the top eight – including the top three podium finishers Garth Tander/Will Davison (Toll HRT) first, Jason Richards/Cameron McConville (Team BOC) second and Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso (Garry Rogers Motorsport) third.
After the announcement, Tander was livid with the new rule.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous, I think it’s an absolutely stupid rule,” Tander told AAP.
“I can’t see the reasoning behind it. All I can see it doing is increasing the costs for everyone involved.
“It denies Will and I the opportunity to defend our title and we’re obviously very disappointed about that.”
Steve Owen, considered by many as one of the best V8 co-drivers in the country, said the new rule will increase the competitiveness of the endurance races.
“There are probably going to be 10-15 cars that can win, where in the last few years, there’s probably been three,” Owen said.
“The new rule, for me, means that I can go to Bathurst and realistically win the race. I think it’s the best news I’ve heard in the long time.”
Now, it’s your chance to continue to have your say. To cast your vote, CLICK HERE, or look at the Speedcafe Poll on the right hand side of this page.