Grand Finale (V8 Supercars)
Encyclopedia
The Grand Finale was a V8 Supercar
event held at Oran Park Raceway
in Sydney
, Australia
. As the name implies, it was the final round of the season.
Like most V8 Supercar events, the Grand Finale was staged over a three-day weekend (Friday-Sunday). Practice was held on Friday with a 40-minute qualifying session on Saturday, followed by the first of three 120-kilometre (approx. 75-mile) races. The final two races were held on Sunday. The winner of the event was determined by points accumulated over all three races.
The Grand Finale was introduced for the 2003 season
and was called "The Main Event". It was originally held at Eastern Creek Raceway
, while the Phillip Island event was staged earlier in the year. The 2003 event is remembered for an incident between Mark Skaife and Russell Ingall. They have a coming together, which takes Skaife out. The following lap, at the same part of the circuit, an angry Skaife shakes his fist furiously at Ingall (Skaife is still on the track) and Ingall responds by swerving towards Skaife, then swerving away at the last moment. Both are fined. When Eastern Creek disappeared from the V8 Supercar calendar in 2005, the event was moved to Phillip Island (which itself was making a comeback after being absent for the 2004 season
).
The 2006 Grand Finale produced a controversial finish to that season. Heading into the final round, Holden
driver Rick Kelly
led the points championship by a slim margin over Ford
's Craig Lowndes
. After the first two races, the drivers were level on points (Lowndes later complained of having been "unfairly" held up by Kelly's team mates over the first two races). Race 3 saw a crash involving Kelly, which resulted in Will Davison
making contact with Lowndes. Kelly was determined by race officials to have caused the accident and received a drive-through penalty but went on to finish the race in 18th position, giving him enough points to seal the championship. Lowndes, who sustained heavy damage from the incident, finished the race 31st. Kelly was booed by fans as he received his championship trophy. Lowndes' team, Triple Eight Racing, lodged a protest against the result which was dismissed after a long hearing, confirming Kelly as the champion.
In 2007, the event was sponsored by Dunlop Tyres
, and was known as the Dunlop Grand Finale. It was won by Garth Tander
who secured the 2007 championship with the win. For 2008 the event moved to Oran Park
as a celebratory event for the circuit's impending closure. The evernt was sponsored by the NRMA
. In 2009, the event will be replaced by the Sydney
Telstra
500
at the brand new Homebush Street Circuit
in Sydney
, which circles many venues used in the 2000 Olympic Games, including ANZ Stadium.
* The 2003 and 2004 races were held at Eastern Creek Raceway
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
event held at Oran Park Raceway
Oran Park Raceway
Oran Park Raceway was a motor racing circuit at Narellan in southwestern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia which was operational from 1962 to 2010....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. As the name implies, it was the final round of the season.
Like most V8 Supercar events, the Grand Finale was staged over a three-day weekend (Friday-Sunday). Practice was held on Friday with a 40-minute qualifying session on Saturday, followed by the first of three 120-kilometre (approx. 75-mile) races. The final two races were held on Sunday. The winner of the event was determined by points accumulated over all three races.
The Grand Finale was introduced for the 2003 season
2003 V8 Supercar season
The 2003 V8 Supercar season was the 44th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500....
and was called "The Main Event". It was originally held at Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek International Raceway is a motorsports circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek , New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the...
, while the Phillip Island event was staged earlier in the year. The 2003 event is remembered for an incident between Mark Skaife and Russell Ingall. They have a coming together, which takes Skaife out. The following lap, at the same part of the circuit, an angry Skaife shakes his fist furiously at Ingall (Skaife is still on the track) and Ingall responds by swerving towards Skaife, then swerving away at the last moment. Both are fined. When Eastern Creek disappeared from the V8 Supercar calendar in 2005, the event was moved to Phillip Island (which itself was making a comeback after being absent for the 2004 season
2004 V8 Supercar season
The 2004 V8 Supercar season was the 45th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500....
).
The 2006 Grand Finale produced a controversial finish to that season. Heading into the final round, Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
driver Rick Kelly
Rick Kelly
Rick Kelly is a current V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the younger brother of former Bathurst 1000 champion, Todd Kelly...
led the points championship by a slim margin over Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's Craig Lowndes
Craig Lowndes
Craig Lowndes is a multi-championship winning Australian racing driver. He is a three-time V8 Supercar champion and five-time winner of Australia's most famous motor race, the Bathurst 1000...
. After the first two races, the drivers were level on points (Lowndes later complained of having been "unfairly" held up by Kelly's team mates over the first two races). Race 3 saw a crash involving Kelly, which resulted in Will Davison
Will Davison
Will Davison is an Australian racing driver. He currently competes with Ford Performance Racing in the #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon, in the premier Australian touring car class, V8 Supercar.-Early career:...
making contact with Lowndes. Kelly was determined by race officials to have caused the accident and received a drive-through penalty but went on to finish the race in 18th position, giving him enough points to seal the championship. Lowndes, who sustained heavy damage from the incident, finished the race 31st. Kelly was booed by fans as he received his championship trophy. Lowndes' team, Triple Eight Racing, lodged a protest against the result which was dismissed after a long hearing, confirming Kelly as the champion.
In 2007, the event was sponsored by Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which bought the right to sell Dunlop-branded road tyres....
, and was known as the Dunlop Grand Finale. It was won by Garth Tander
Garth Tander
Garth Tander is a multiple-championship winning Australian motor racing driver. Since 1998 Tander has been a competitor in touring car racing series V8 Supercar Championship Series. Tander was the 2007 series champion for the HSV Dealer Team and is a three-time winner in Australia's most...
who secured the 2007 championship with the win. For 2008 the event moved to Oran Park
Oran Park
Oran Park may refer to:*Oran Park, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney in Australia*Oran Park Raceway, a former motor racing circuit in Sydney...
as a celebratory event for the circuit's impending closure. The evernt was sponsored by the NRMA
NRMA
NRMA refers to either of two historically related Australian companies:*The National Roads and Motorists' Association, known as NRMA Motoring and Services, is a member-owned mutual organisation offering , motoring advice and other services in New South Wales and the Australian Capital...
. In 2009, the event will be replaced by the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
500
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
at the brand new Homebush Street Circuit
Homebush Street Circuit
The Homebush Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit around the former Olympic precinct at Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales. The track was used for the first time at the final round of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, the inaugural Sydney 500.-The circuit:The circuit was...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, which circles many venues used in the 2000 Olympic Games, including ANZ Stadium.
Previous names
- The Main Event presented by VIP Pet Foods (2003*)
- BigpondBigPondBigPond is an Australian Internet service provider and is a product of Telstra. BigPond is Australia's largest ISP and based in Melbourne.- Internet :...
Grand Finale (2004*-2005) - CaterpillarCaterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
Grand Finale (2006) - Dunlop Grand Finale 2007
- NRMA Motoring ServicesNRMANRMA refers to either of two historically related Australian companies:*The National Roads and Motorists' Association, known as NRMA Motoring and Services, is a member-owned mutual organisation offering , motoring advice and other services in New South Wales and the Australian Capital...
Grand Finale 2008
* The 2003 and 2004 races were held at Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek International Raceway is a motorsports circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek , New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the...
Past winners
- 2008 Garth TanderGarth TanderGarth Tander is a multiple-championship winning Australian motor racing driver. Since 1998 Tander has been a competitor in touring car racing series V8 Supercar Championship Series. Tander was the 2007 series champion for the HSV Dealer Team and is a three-time winner in Australia's most...
- 2007 Garth TanderGarth TanderGarth Tander is a multiple-championship winning Australian motor racing driver. Since 1998 Tander has been a competitor in touring car racing series V8 Supercar Championship Series. Tander was the 2007 series champion for the HSV Dealer Team and is a three-time winner in Australia's most...
- 2006 Todd KellyTodd KellyTodd Kelly is a V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the older brother of former V8 Supercar and Bathurst 1000 champion, Rick Kelly. He drove for the Holden Racing Team from 2003 until 2007, and Jack Daniel's Racing in 2008...
- 2005 Marcos AmbroseMarcos AmbroseMarcos Ambrose is a championship winning Australian racing car driver. He currently drives the #9 Stanley Black & Decker Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
- 2004 Marcos AmbroseMarcos AmbroseMarcos Ambrose is a championship winning Australian racing car driver. He currently drives the #9 Stanley Black & Decker Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
- 2003 Marcos AmbroseMarcos AmbroseMarcos Ambrose is a championship winning Australian racing car driver. He currently drives the #9 Stanley Black & Decker Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...