<I>Crash.net</I> preview - '06 V8 Supercar series.

by Matthew Agius

You could be forgiven to think that the teams of the V8 Supercar Championship were entering their most competitive arsenals to celebrate the tenth year of the championship. However as Matthew Agius reports, it looks as though the field will be closer, more competitive and also more determined in 2006.

The V8 Supercar Championship Series prides itself on being one of the most competitive touring car competitions in the world. Indeed it boasts some of the most challenging events and also some of the most entertaining.

The series has gone from strength to strength over the years. Since the turn of the century, crowd and television viewing figures have risen, and more and more Australians have been exposed to the spectacle that is V8 Supercars. True, there have been some hiccups through the rise to Australian sporting greatness, such as the negotiation fall-through with China over a second international round in Shanghai, however Bahrain has decided to host a round of the series at its Grand Prix circuit and Winton has been re-added to the calendar to provide country Victoria with a one-off dose of V8 action.

Series promoters would also be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of having several drivers with international motorsport grooming entering the series. Former F1 test driver and Japanese GT racer James Courtney has signed up with Stone Brothers Racing to replace Marcos Ambrose, ex Minardi F1 tester and A1GP driver Will Davison has joined Dick Johnson Racing, and former Champ Car driver Marcus Marshall has been recruited by the new Paul Cruickshank Racing outfit.

A raft of changes has also been introduced to the series for 2006 - most notably the new reverse-grid format at sprint rounds. This is perhaps the most vocally opposed change by teams and drivers for sometime.

Not since 2002 has reverse-grid racing been active in V8 Supercars. It was notoriously used to ill effect at the Canberra 400 street-circuit, and was eventually filtered out of the series for 2003.

This is a feature of the 2006 championship, which, whilst it will make the racing closer, is an unnecessary addition in the wake of increasing costs forcing some teams to shut up shop. That said, it will provide more entertainment for the viewing public who at the end of the day, keep the championship running.

With lap times across the V8 Supercar field set to be reduced with the closure of several privateer teams, and brand new technical or racing partnerships between other racing entities, there is still a sense of one-sidedness in the series.

Five teams stand truly poised to contest the championship. In reality some teams were far too behind with consistency or race pace at the end of 2005 to indicate a return to the top ranks of the championship in 2006. Ford's front running teams in Stone Brothers Racing and Team Betta Electrical each boast impressive lineups for this year, with the Holden Racing Team, Toll HSV Dealer Team and Super Cheap Auto Racing all looking strong heading into the season opening Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

New look teams will also feature on the grid at Adelaide, including a combined effort from Mark Larkham and WPS Racing, a graduated assault from Paul Cruickshank Racing, a new partnership from Rod Nash Racing and Independent Race Cars Australia and also an expanded Team Sirromet Wines operation.

Following on from the merger between Larkham Motorsport and WPS Racing, Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson will grid up with new look WPS-Orrcon BF Falcons at the Clipsal 500 at the end of March. Former drivers David Besnard and Craig Baird have been ditched to make way for the new pair, and will compete in the Aussie Race Cars and Australian Carrera Cup respectively.

Glenfords Tools Racing is the new image of former Fujitsu-series team Paul Cruickshank Racing. PCR will field the ex-Steve Ellery #88 Falcon from 2005, with Marcus Marshall spearheading the team's single car assault.

Rod Nash Racing has distanced itself from Perkins Engineering for 2006 and has instead joined forces with Marty Brant's Independent Race Cars operation, the same group who engineered Paul Dumbrell's 2002 Fujitsu Championship victory. Former Britek Motorsport driver Steve Owen has jumped ship to this fledgling Holden operation and will run the #55 Autobarn VZ Commodore, with the automotive goods specialists staying with Rod Nash Racing as major sponsors for 2006.

Paul Morris Motorsports has re-entered itself as Team Sirromet Wines for this year's championship and in doing so will field a second car to be rotated between young-guns Alan Gurr and Fabian Coulthard, with the latter poised to drive with Paul Radisich at the enduros with Team Kiwi Racing.

2006 LINE UP
Stone Brothers Racing
Russell Ingall (#1 BF Falcon), James Courtney (#4 BF Falcon)

Both Stone Brothers Racing Falcons will be up the front of the grid this year with Russell Ingall leading his rookie teammate James Courtney from the front. Whether Ingall reverts to his old fashion of hard charging, never-say die attitude or not remains to be seen, but his Caltex Falcon is expected to be one of the most competitive machines on the grid in 2006.

Courtney will take time to learn circuits in the championship, but is expected to be contesting for top five finishes early in the season, if he lives up to the ultra hype circulating the Ford contingent at the moment. His international pedigree is unrivalled in the series, and he is likely to finish on the podium by the end of the championship.

Final Word
Ingall: Consistency is unlikely to net him another title, must race hard and lead from the front.
Courtney: With such a huge reputation, anything less than consistent top ten finishes in unacceptable.

Holden Racing Team
Mark Skaife (#2 VZ Commodore), Todd Kelly (#22 VZ Commodore)

Regarded as Holden's top team for a number of years, the Mark Skaife-led brigade will need to fight off a challenge from the young Toll HSV Dealer Team crew to maintain their position as The General's crown jewel. With a new sponsorship deal with Dodo adding further funding for the team in 2006, the HRT are preparing to contest one of their most important series since joining the Australian Touring Car Championship.

Mark Skaife has failed to win a solo event of the V8 Supercar Championship since the Clipsal 500 Adelaide in 2003. With the Holden Racing Team being soundly outperformed by its fellow Holden frontrunners at the end of season 2005, Mark Skaife will need to hold his team's flag high as it attempts to resurrect itself as a championship title threat after the setbacks of the famously disastrous 2004 championship.

Todd Kelly will aim to outperform his veteran teammate again in 2006. With two round wins to his name in 2005, he remains one of Holden's best drivers in top machinery. However his consistency and raw speed will need to be taken up a notch if he is to challenge for more victories in 2006.

Final Word
Skaife: It's crunch time for this former champion - Skaife must win a solo round in 2006.
Kelly: A strong performance in 2005 indicates another good year in 2006.

Tasman Motorsport
Jason Richards (#3 VZ Commodore), Andrew Jones (#23 VZ Commodore)

A significant sponsorship loss heading into the new championship is not the best start for the Preston-based outfit, but Tasman Motorsport is shaping up as the likely dark horse of the V8 Supercar Series for 2006.

Jason Richards remains team leader of Tasman Motorsport after re-signing with the team at the end of 2005. He is perhaps one of the most underrated steerers in the championship, with a good, solid balance of raw speed and a level head. After two years of developing a front running car, Tasman and Richards may be dogged by the new reverse grid regulations, but pundits would be quietly confident that the lead car from this team will be a race contender in 2006.

Andrew Jones has joined Richards as teammate for 2006. Despite winning the 2004 Fujitsu Series Championship, Jones wasn't overly impressive at Garry Rogers Motorsport last year - being axed after an admirable performance at Bathurst. Despite this, some feel that Jones' #34 Commodore was not getting the best attention from GRM's development program so Tasman Motorsport has gifted him another chance in V8's main game for 2006.

Final Word
Richards: A top ten series finish is a definite possibility.
Jones: To consistently run in the top twenty is a good ask for Jones - harsh to expect much more.

Ford Performance Racing
Mark Winterbottom (#5 BF Falcon), Jason Bright (#6 BF Falcon)

Ford's notorious underachievers will hope to secure a much higher championship position in 2006 after two years of ill fortune. The loss of Ford Performance Vehicles as a naming rights sponsor for the #5 Ford will hit hard, but this is a year where results will be worth more than any amount of money for the flagship Blue Oval team.

Jason Bright will lead the team in his second year back at Ford. He is one of the series brightest stars and got results which were probably above the FPR Falcon's capabilities in 2005. With further development into the squad's engine program in the off-season, Bright is set to reap the rewards of an intense improvement from Campbellfield.

His new teammate Mark Winterbottom is likened to Tasman Motorsport's Andrew Jones in two ways - a former Development Series champion, and a driver without a capable car in 2005. Now it's the moment of truth for 'Frosty' - he is a talented youngster, but is relatively unproven in the top ranks of V8 racing. His pace in 2004 was considerable however, so he has the capability to do well in the Ford Credit Falcon.

Final Word
Bright: A solid performance in the top ten all year will be top work.
Winterbottom: Cracking the top twenty - something the Ford Credit Falcon didn't do in 2005 - will be a credit to MW.

Jack Daniels Racing
Steven Richards (#7 VZ Commodore), Paul Dumbrell (#11 VZ Commodore)

For years, Larry Perkins and Castrol forged a successful partnership, which reaped two Bathurst victories and three second places in the V8 Supercar Championship. For 2006 however, Castrol has distanced itself from Perkins and decided to focus on sponsoring other teams in the V8 Supercar Championship. This paved the way for Jack Daniels' Whiskey to join the team as naming-rights sponsor for 2006.

Steven Richards will therefore run with a new competition number in 2006 - number seven - a reference to the No. 7 brand of Jack Daniels. Richards is one of the most consistent drivers in the series, with a cool approach to racing complementing his natural talent. However for some years now, the Perkins' Commodores haven't been able to match their Holden counterparts and have therefore failed to challenge for the championship as the end of a series. Richards has the ability to win - but he really needs top-notch equipment to do so.

Paul Dumbrell must surely be on his last legs at Moorabbin. Perkins has given the 2002 Fujitsu Series champion three years to prove himself on equal footing with Richards and has been soundly beaten. Unnecessary collisions and crashes have hurt Dumbrell's credibility as a driver on occasion, but if he wants to make it in V8 Supercars, he must surely need to make amends on his lowly championship finishes. A solid finish to 2005 may be an indicator of a better year for Paul though.

Final Word
Richards: Still one of the best - top five will be a good performance.
Dumbrell: On the improve, but must fare better in 2006.

WPS Racing
Max Wilson (#8 BF Falcon), Jason Bargwanna (#10 BF Falcon)

Craig Gore's inaugural race team hasn't impressed during its first two years of competition. The merger with Larkham Motorsport may elevate the team up the order, and Cosworth engines may also be of benefit, but the real deciding factor will relate to machinery and not necessarily driving talent.

Jason Bargwanna has joined WPS with Mark Larkham from Orrcon Racing. He is one of the field's most underrated pilots and had an unsuccessful 2005 due to a poor race package. Whether he can elevate WPS Racing from also-rans to consistent top ten runners remains to be seen - that will depend on the influence from the team's technical heads.

Max Wilson has also joined WPS as a full-time driver for 2006. A former Williams F1 test driver, Wilson was a top qualifier during his 2002 debut, but has slipped off the radar since - with unspectacular driving performances being his main problem. He was very good at Longhurst Racing in 2005 with a under performing Team Dynamik VZ Holden, so hopefully his return to a Falcon in '06 will reap rewards for the category's diminutive Brazilian.

Final Word
Bargwanna: A championship top twenty will be a good result.
Wilson: Hopefully some strong performances to complement an impressive 2005.

Team BOC
John Bowe (#12 BF Falcon), Brad Jones (#14 BF Falcon)

Team BOC suffered what was a poor year by their standards in 2005. After finishing in the top ten of the championship in 2004, John Bowe and Brad Jones each endured difficult years with a poorly setup chassis contributing mainly to their problems. This year, Team BOC will utilise Stone Brothers Racing engines in an effort to improve on a season outside the top twenty.

Despite his age, John Bowe is still one of the top drivers in V8 Supercar racing. His experience, determination and talent all contribute to what is at the moment a top driver in a 'minnow' team. Team BOC has prided itself on taking it to the top teams with a modest budget and will aim to reclaim its perch as one of Ford's better teams in 2006 - with JB leading the way.

Brad Jones is another driver needing to improve on his results of old. He is a highly skilled racer at venues such as Bathurst and Sandown, but hasn't really shone elsewhere. 2006 will be an important year for Jones as he operates his outfit and races full-time - SBR engines may help.

Final Word
Bowe: Still one of the best, but don't expect much better than fifteenth.
Jones: Unless BJR's package improves dramatically, it looks like another lean year.

Toll HSV Dealer Team
Rick Kelly (#15 VZ Commodore), Garth Tander (#16 VZ Commodore)

Perhaps the most exciting team Holden has going for it at the moment, the Toll HSV Dealer Team is set to challenge for the championship in 2006.

Toll Holdings has joined Holden Special Vehicles as joint-naming rights partners of Holden's second top ranked team, and based on the blistering pace shown late last year, the squad could definitely contend for the championship title this year. Garth Tander will once again lead he team in his #16 VZ Commodore. After struggling early with the poor race package used by the Holden Racing Team in 2004, Tander recovered to claim a dominant round win in Tasmania and also finished on the podium at Hidden Valley and Phillip Island. He is the key to success for the Toll HSV Dealer Team, with vast experience racing V8 Holden's a Bathurst victory in 2000 and a runner-up place in the championship of the same year to his name. It is imperative for Tander to get a good start in the championship, but it is likely that he will be hot tipped to challenge for a first title.

Younger teammate Rick Kelly has been a shining light for this team since joining it in 2003. Two Bathurst victories with Greg Murphy and his own solo win at Eastern Creek are indicators that this youngster is bound for success. 2005 was a difficult year however for Kelly, but judging by his good pace in the final five rounds of last season, it is highly likely that Kelly will finish in the top ten at most, if not all rounds.

Final Word
Tander: Has to be a favourite to deliver Holden a championship.
Kelly: A solid year will deliver a top ten result, but a blistering effort will net wins.

Dick Johnson Racing
Steven Johnson (#17 BF Falcon), Will Davison (#18 BF Falcon)

Since 2002, Dick Johnson Racing has been stranded in the wilderness of V8 Supercar Racing. Steve Johnson and Paul Radisich were immensely successful in 2001 and flew the Ford flag high - but several drivers and two major sponsorship changes later - the team is yet to truly reclaim its perch as a Blue Oval great.

Steven Johnson remains with the team, but his race results are nothing to be overly praised for. He missed out on the top ten of the championship last year, and was only just able to finish inside it in 2004. These results are good, but for many of the DJR faithful not good enough. Some have questioned Steven's presence at the team for some time now, but the fact remains he is a good driver, and his teammates haven't quite lived up to the hype.

But for 2006 a new teammate who has lived up to the hype will be joining DJR. Replacing Glenn Seton, former Minardi test driver Will Davison has been signed to drive the #18 V8 Telecom Falcon, and is expected to do well after impressive results in his few stints in a V8 Supercar - most notably his top ten placing at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, and finishing second on debut in the Fujitsu V8 Series.

Final Word
Johnson: A top ten finish would be highly impressive for Junior, but is probably unlikely.
Davison: His prior experience will be handy, but if his car can't be regularly competitive he'll miss the Top Ten.

Glenfords Tools Racing
Marcus Marshall (#20 BF Falcon)

In probably the most audacious campaign this year, Paul Cruickshank Racing has made the jump from the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series to the top degree of Australian V8s with a single car for former Champ Car driver Marcus Marshall.

With Glenfords Tools jumping on as major sponsor, the team has a gargantuan effort ahead of them - contesting the V8 Supercar Series with a relatively untried driver. Marshall has run in enduros before but even in the ex-Team Betta #88 BA Falcon will he be able to finish inside the top twenty? Probably not, the competition from more experienced teams is likely to be too great for the team, but any results in the top twenty-five will be credible early on for the team.

Final Word
Marshall: Can't see much better than twenty-fifth.

Fujitsu Racing
Warren Luff (#25 BF Falcon), Jose Fernandez (#26 BF Falcon)

After a tough debut year for Fujitsu Racing last season, the task to succeed doesn't look like getting any easier.

Two new drivers in Warren Luff and Jose Fernandez have been signed to steer the #25 and #26 Fujitsu Falcons, but at this stage, it is unlikely that the team will do very well. Being pooled for testing with Ford Performance Racing has hurt the Jason Bright-owned squad, and the driving talent acquired this year will be relatively unimpressive.

Luff is a former SBR enduro driver, V8 Brute winner, and last year contested the Fujitsu series with Paul Cruickshank Racing. Despite his obvious experience and good driving skills, he is unlikely to get much out of driving the Fujitsu Racing chassis. Certainly his teammate will do much less. Jose Fernandez has been signed to drive the second car, but he will probably finish down the bottom of the championship order, having struggled to get to the front in the Fujitsu Series last year.

Final Word
Luff: Will try hard but wont finish too well
Fernandez: Getting thrown in at the deep end is never good - should have stayed in Fujitsu Series.

Team Repco Valvoline Cummins
Lee Holdsworth (#33 VZ Commodore), Dean Canto (#34 VZ Commodore)

This team remains one of Holden's stalwart outfits, but Garry Rogers Motorsport's V8 campaign in 2006 needs to really take it up a notch to regain its title as a top team of the series, especially with such a youthful squad.

Dean Canto will lead the team in 2006 - a big ask from the 2005 Development Series Champion, but his skills and ability are up to the task. After running well at selected rounds last year with GRM in the team's second car, Canto seems bound for a strong season as team leader. Any finish in the top fifteen would be excellent for this highly underrated driver.

Lee Holdsworth is another youngster making the step up to the top level from the tier-two category. He has performed well in the Development Series with the Smiths Trucks team, and it would be good to see him finish his debut season in the top twenty, however the second GRM Commodore hasn't been a good car for some years now, so his performance seems to be determined by his machinery before his season has started.

Team Sirromet Wines
Alan Gurr/Fabian Coulthard (#39 VZ Commodore), Paul Morris (#67 VZ Commodore)

After numerous years as a single car outfit, Team Sirromet Wines has upgraded to a two-car outfit and is giving a development opportunity to the team's former prot?g? in the Fujitsu Series, Alan Gurr, and 2005 Carrera Cup Champion Fabian Coulthard.

Owner/driver Paul Morris will compete at every championship round in the team's lead VZ Commodore. With significant developments over a three year period contributing to the progression of Morris up the V8 ladder, 2006 looks to be another solid year for the former round winner. However the upgrade to two cars could also hurt the team in terms of strategy and car configuration over a race weekend - something the team hasn't dealt with before.

One couldn't expect Gurr or Coulthard to finish in the top thirty of the championship, with the second car being shared between both drivers, there is only half the opportunity for either to gain points over the year. 2006 should be about developing skills and circuit knowledge in a V8 to better prepare them for other opportunities in 2007.

Final Word
Morris: Occasional appearances in the top ten would be welcome.
Gurr/Coulthard: To feature this car in the top twenty throughout the year would be a solid result.

Super Cheap Auto Racing
Cameron McConville (#50 VZ Commodore), Greg Murphy (#51 VZ Commodore)

As one of Holden's 'big three' team's, Super Cheap Auto Racing has been overshadowed by its higher regarded flagship teams. With the absence of Paul Weel Racing operating the team in 2006, SCAR will take it to the top teams in a different managerial form than in 2005, and will have a new driver in its midst.

Cameron McConville is that new driver, and with two seasons with Garry Rogers Motorsport under his belt, Cam will enter a team known for its strong performances in Supercar racing. He will be on equal footing with regular Greg Murphy, and will possess able machinery to mount a race winning challenge.

'Murph' is easily identified as the guy who's up the front at the New Zealand round of the series. His aggressive and speedy style means he is a classy driver on circuits that require guts and determination - that probably explains why he is a four-time Bathurst winner. Although he seems to struggle at some circuits, Murphy represents one of V8 Supercars' 'complete packages.' He has the talent and the machinery to do well almost anywhere, and like long-time sparring partner Russell Ingall - a more level-headed approach could clinch him an elusive championship crown.

Final Word
McConville: A definite top five candidate.
Murphy: Will be as fast as always, just needs to focus on driving for points sometimes.

Autobarn Race Team
Steve Owen (#55 VZ Commodore)

Steve Owen impressed many with a spirited and smart drive at Bathurst in 2004. That's the reason why Britek Motorsport signed him to drive the outfit's #25 car - a car that was disallowed to compete at 32-car restricted rounds - and a car which was, on the whole, uncompetitive.

So Owen has jumped over to Holden for the 2006 series, and joins a partnership between Rod Nash Racing, and Marty Brant's Independent Race Cars engineering squads. After the huge letdown of RNR's 2005 Autobarn campaign, the choice to sign Owen and join with IRC represents a move in the right direction for the team.

Owen is a talented driver with the brain to achieve good results, with a small but committed campaign in 2006, he could finish in the top twenty.

Final Word
Owen: The Autobarn car will perform much, much better this year.

Team Betta Electrical
Jamie Whincup (#88 BF Falcon), Craig Lowndes (#888 BF Falcon)

Craig Lowndes's is celebrating ten years in V8 Supercars by steering the most successful car (based on round wins) from 2005, plus he'll have a new teammate to help steer Team Betta Electrical to the Teams' Championship title.

Lowndes is the championship favourite for 2006. He has a Stone Brothers Racing engine propelling his way to the front, he has probably the best chassis in the series, and is also regarded as the most naturally talented driver in the championship. And the best thing for Ford fans is that he's been successful at just about every circuit on the calendar.

His new teammate in Jamie Whincup is completing a dream run of V8 upgrades. After being ditched by Garry Rogers Motorsport at the end of 2003, he was picked up to drive for Tasman Motorsport - where he finished fourth in China - and received the call to be Lowndes' teammate for 2006. A quality steerer with a breeding in Formula Ford, Whincup can, with a little consistency, be a regular performer in the top ten.

Final Word
Lowndes: Title Favourite.
Whincup: Quick, but due to his erratics last year, will probably finish just outside the top ten.

Team Kiwi Racing
Paul Radisich (#021 VZ Commodore)

If a single car team were to finish on the podium on any given day - Team Kiwi Racing would be it.

It is truly amazing how a small outfit with a minuscule budget in comparison to the category's super teams can consistently break into the top ten. But that's the formula that makes TKR so unique. A technical partnership with Paul Morris Motorsports and the experience of dual World Touring Car Champion Paul Radisich make a lethal combination at any track or in any format. Since joining the team Radisich has delivered TKR their inaugural podium finish on the back of Craig Baird's pole in 2004. With an undeniable thirst for success and the best working environment to spur him on, Radisich is one Dark Horse to look out for this year.

Final Word
Radisich: Money isn't everything, and TKR's giant-killing prowess is a trademark Radisich will continue.

2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

Running parallel to the V8 Supercar Series at several rounds is the 'tier two' of the number-one Australian racing series - the Fujitsu Championship.

With such drivers making the step up to the top level, including 2005 champion Dean Canto (Team Repco Valvoline Cummins), Warren Luff (Fujitsu Racing), Jose Fernandez (Fujitsu Racing) and Lee Holdsworth (Team Repco Valvoline Cummins), the series has the knack of producing better racing than its more challenging big brother.

The series is also the only of the two that allows the entry of privateers, and the category will this year boast one of its largest private entry contingents for some time.

Several operations also boast talent worthy of main game seats, and it is these driver who are likely to contest the championship.

2005 competitor Adam Macrow continues to drive for Howard Racing in the series and is championship favourite after the signing of Dean Canto and Warren Luff to main game teams. In his own right, Macrow would have got a top seat had more been available - his talent is top quality and his determination is unrivalled in this series.

His competition this year is less challenging than last, but may spring a few surprises on him. Dick Johnson Racing's Grant Denyer has become team leader after Canto's departure, but for the Channel 7 Sunrise weatherman, he is still developing his skills in a V8 - that said, he will probably finish in the top five of the championship, as will Brad Jones Racing's Gary MacDonald who won last year's Privateers' Cup, and Holden's front runner Tony D'Alberto of GMAC Racing. The likes of Mark Porter and Chris Pither may also take a few wins, with Perkins Engineering and the two youth development Falcons for Dick Johnson Racing.

Both championships will kick off at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide in late March, with the V8 Supercar Series running through to the Grand Finale in December.

V8 Supercar Championship Series

Rd 1: Clipsal 500 Adelaide, 23 Mar - 26 Mar 2006
N/C: Australian Grand Prix Support, 30 Mar - 2 Apr 2006
Rd 2: Placemakers V8 New Zealand, 21 Apr - 23 Apr 2006
Rd 3: V8 400 Perth, 12 May - 14 May 2006
Rd 4: Winton Raceway, 2 Jun - 4 Jun 2006
Rd 5: Skycity Triple Crown Darwin, 30 Jun - 2 Jul 2006
Rd 6: Queensland 280, 21 Jul - 23 Jul 2006
Rd 7: Oran Park Raceway, 11 Aug - 13 Aug 2006
Rd 8: Betta Electrical 500, 8 Sep - 10 Sep 2006
Rd 9: Super Cheap Auto 1000, 5 Oct - 8 Oct 2006
Rd 10: Gillette V8 Challenge, 19 Oct - 22 Oct 2006
Rd 11: Ferodo Triple Challenge, 10 Nov - 12 Nov 2006
Rd 12: Bahrain International Circuit, 22 Nov - 24 Nov 2006
Rd 13: Bigpond Grand Finale, 8 Dec - 10 Dec 2006

Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

Rd 1: Clipsal 500 Support, 23 Mar - 26 Mar 2006
Rd 2: Wakefield Park, 26 May - 28 May 2006
Rd 3: Queensland 280 Support, 21 Jul - 23 Jul 2006
Rd 4: Oran Park Support, 11 Aug - 13 Aug 2006
Rd 5: Mallala Motorsport Park, 15 Sep - 17 Sep 2006
Rd 6: Super Cheap Auto 1000 Support, 5 Oct - 8 Oct 2006
Rd 7: Grand Finale Support, 8 Dec - 10 Dec 2006