V8 Ute Racing Series

V8 Ute Racing Series

Category	Pickup truck racing
Country	Australia
Inaugural season	2001
Constructors	Ford Australia Holden
Tyre suppliers	Yokohama
Drivers' champion	Ryal Harris
Official website	V8 Utes Australia
Current season

The V8 Ute Racing Series is an Australian motor racing series for utilities, derived from the Australian Production Car Championship. It was conceived in 2000 by PROCAR chief Ross Palmer, V8 Ute Patron Ian McAlister and current category manager of SPHERIX 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.

Presently, entry into V8 Utes racing is via a franchise, which has been limited to 32 in number, 16 specifically to be Ford Falcon XR8 Utes, 16 Holden SS Utes. All the rounds are shared with V8 Supercars, 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 champion in 2015. Luff and White have each won two titles.

The series covers eight rounds at various tracks throughout Australia. The reverse grid racing format is 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 NRL Roosters player Jack Elsegood who is also the 2009 series champion, and former V8 Supercar drivers Cameron McConville and Nathan Pretty.

Champions

Ford BF Falcon XR8 Ute as driven by Pedro Marusic at the opening round of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series at the Clipsal 500

Holden VE SS Ute as driven by Steve Hodges at the opening round of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series at the Clipsal 500

V8 Ute Racing Series

Summer Series

References

• CAMS –
• CAMS Manual –
• PROCAR –

External links

• Official website
• NZV8 Ute Racing Series official website