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V8 Ute Racing Series

Australian motor racing series

V8 Ute Racing Series

Summary

Australian motor racing series

FieldValue
logoV8 ute logo.jpg
image-size125px
categoryPickup truck racing
inaugural22001
folded2017
constructorsFord Australia
Holden
tyresYokohama
enginesFord and Holden
country/regionAustralia and New Zealand
champion driverKim Jane
websiteV8 Utes Australia

| image-size = 125px Holden | country/region = Australia and New Zealand

The V8 Ute Racing Series, known originally as the V8 BRute Utes was an Australian motor racing series for utilities, derived from the Australian Production Car Championship. It was conceived in 2000 by PROCAR chief and owner Ross Palmer, V8 Ute Patron Ian McAlister and Procar employee Craig Denyer and launched March 2001, as V8 Brute Utes, at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. The series was instantly popular, in part because of aggressive driving style of competitors, a style encouraged by the use of reverse grid racing, but also because of its very fan friendly marketing which included gimmicks like referring to each of its drivers by a nickname.

For most, V8 Utes Racing Series entry was via a franchise, which had been limited to 32 in number, 16 specifically to be Ford Falcon (Australia) XR8 Utes, 16 Holden Utes. All the rounds were shared with Supercars Championship, Australia's top motorsport championship.

Holden driver Rod Wilson was the inaugural series winner. Sydney's Warren Luff, took back to back victories in 2002 and 2003. Holden again returned to form in 2004 with Damien White taking the series title, before defecting to Ford and taking the title again in 2005 by a narrow margin to Melbourne's Marcus Zukanovic.

Ryal Harris is the series most successful driver, becoming the first three-time series winner in 2015. Luff and White have each won two titles.

The series covered eight rounds at various tracks throughout Australia. The reverse grid racing format was extremely popular with the race fans. Drivers have included former Australian NASCAR champion Kim Jane, actor George Elliot, country music singer Adam Brand, television host Grant Denyer, driving instructor Gary Baxter, former Waratahs and Australian Sevens rugby union player Ben Dunn, former Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters National Rugby League player Jack Elsegood who was also the 2009 series winner, and former Supercar drivers Cameron McConville and Nathan Pretty.

The Ford Falcon Ute ceased production in 2016, and the Holden Ute ceased production in 2017. As a consequence moves began to wrap the series up at the end of 2016, but the replacement, the SuperUtes Series was not ready for a 2017 launch. SuperUtes, featuring turbo diesel powered dual-cab Utility vehicles, launched in 2018.

The V8 Ute Racing Series was in most part successful given it was professionally managed by Category Management company SPHERIX. A Partnership formed by Bill West and Craig Denyer.

Series winners

Clipsal 500
Clipsal 500

;V8 Ute Racing Series

YearWinnerVehicle20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Rod WilsonHolden SS Ute
Warren LuffFord Falcon Ute
Warren LuffFord Falcon Ute
Damien WhiteHolden SS Ute
Damien WhiteFord Falcon Ute
Marcus ZukanovicFord Falcon Ute
Grant JohnsonHolden SS Ute
Layton CrambrookFord Falcon Ute
Jack ElsegoodFord Falcon Ute
Grant JohnsonHolden SS Ute
Chris PitherHolden SS Ute
Ryal HarrisFord Falcon Ute
Ryal HarrisFord Falcon Ute
Kris WaltonFord Falcon Ute
Ryal HarrisFord Falcon Ute
David SiedersHolden SS Ute
Kim JaneHolden SS Ute

;Summer Series

YearWinnerVehicle2004
Grant DenyerFord Falcon Ute

Multiple winners

Drivers

WinsDriverYears32
AUS Ryal Harris2012–2013, 2015
AUS Grant Johnson2007, 2010
AUS Warren Luff2002–2003
AUS Damien White2004–2005

Manufacturer

WinsManufacturerYears107
Ford
Holden

References

References

  1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20161208215736/http://racing.natsoft.com.au/637466778/object_400207.87N/Series?46 Series Points Report, racing.natsoft.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]
Wikipedia Source

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