V8 Utes
Encyclopedia
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 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 Ute
s. 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.
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 and former NRL Roosters
player Jack Elsegood
who is also the regning series champion.
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Summer Series
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Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
, derived from the Australian Production Car Championship
Australian Production Car Championship
The Australian Production Car Championship is a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of production cars, which must compete in close to standard specification...
. It was conceived in 2000 by PROCAR
Procar Australia
Procar Australia was a motor sport category management company which operated in Australia over a ten year period from the mid 1990s. It was founded by businessman Ross Palmer in 1994 and was to administer various championships and series for production based cars including:* Australian Super...
chief Ross Palmer 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
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
XR8 Utes, 16 Holden SS Ute
Holden Ute
The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility and Holden Commodore utility names, although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their...
s. 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.
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
Adam Brand
Adam Brand is an Australian musician who sings country music. Active since 1997, he has released seven studio albums and thirteen singles. His first three albums are all certified platinum in Australia...
, Television host Grant Denyer
Grant Denyer
Grant Denyer is an Australian television reporter, personality and motor racing driver.-Television career:In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media, he gained a position at Prime Television in Wagga Wagga as a news reporter and journalist...
, driving instructor Gary Baxter, former Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
and Australian Sevens Rugby Union player Ben Dunn and former NRL Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
player Jack Elsegood
Jack Elsegood
Jack Elsegood, December 22, 1973 in Sydney Australia, is a former Australian Rugby League player and now race driver. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from 1993 - 1996 then moved across town to the Sydney Roosters from 1997 - 2000. After retiring from football at the end of the 2000...
who is also the regning series champion.
Champions
V8 Ute Racing Series| Year | Winner | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Rod Wilson | Holden SS Ute Holden Ute The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility and Holden Commodore utility names, although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their... |
| 2002 | Warren Luff | Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2003 | Warren Luff | Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2004 | Damien White | Holden SS Ute Holden Ute The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility and Holden Commodore utility names, although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their... |
| 2005 | Damien White | Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2006 | Marcus Zukanovic | Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2007 | Grant Johnson | Holden SS Ute Holden Ute The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility and Holden Commodore utility names, although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their... |
| 2008 | Layton Crambrook | Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2009 2009 V8 Utes season The 2009 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series was a motor racing series for Ford Falcon and Holden Utility Trucks built and conforming to V8 Utes series regulations and those holding valid licence to compete as issued by series organisers Spherix and Australian V8 Ute Racing Pty. Ltd. The series formed... |
Jack Elsegood Jack Elsegood Jack Elsegood, December 22, 1973 in Sydney Australia, is a former Australian Rugby League player and now race driver. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from 1993 - 1996 then moved across town to the Sydney Roosters from 1997 - 2000. After retiring from football at the end of the 2000... |
Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |
| 2010 | Grant Johnson | Holden SS Ute Holden Ute The Holden Ute is a coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, since 2000. Before then, Holden had marketed their Commodore-based utility models under the Holden Utility and Holden Commodore utility names, although the term “Holden Ute” was also used in their... |
Summer Series
| Year | Winner | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grant Denyer Grant Denyer Grant Denyer is an Australian television reporter, personality and motor racing driver.-Television career:In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media, he gained a position at Prime Television in Wagga Wagga as a news reporter and journalist... |
Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Falcon (Australia) The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered... |