One of the things that makes V8 supercar racing so exciting is the closeness of the races.  Sometimes the top speeds are less than a second apart.  Primarily this is because both the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore are subject to the “Project Blueprint” that was implemented in 2003.  This specifies that both cars must be built to the same specification that covers body design, power configurations, brakes, tyres & suspension.  As a result no one model can dominate the sport.

The Body

The unique thing about V8 supercars are that the frames are not based on space frame construction, but on the production models on the road.  However, all other specifications must be the same between the two models.  Both have a roll cage, E-glass front mudguards and a minimum weight of 1355 kg.  In addition, both have spoilers, wings, front splitter/ air dam and side skirts, which help ensure that both cars have similar aerodynamic performances.

The Power

The power of the car is certainly part of what drives the race and these cars are no different.  Both have a front-engine design with a rear-wheel drive.  The engines are 5.0 L with 2 valves per cylinder and are based on their own respective production models.  In full trim, these cars can produce 450 kW, but are restricted to 7,500 rpm.  For fuel, these cars burn E85, which is 85% ethanol.

The Brakes

When travelling at high rates of speed, the braking system can be a rather critical component.  However, these cars can only use steel brakes instead of carbon for both the front and rear-brake disks. In addition the measurements of these disks are set to a maximum of 376 diameter of 376 mm and a maximum thickness of 35.56 mm.  Both cars must also use the same manufacturer, the UK-based Alcon, to ensure compliance to specifications.

Tyres

Both cars must also use a Dunlop control tyre and have to abide by certain regulations on the number and type of tyres used for each race.  For example, a soft sprint tyre offers a better performance, but each team may only use one set per weekend.  Teams are also limited on the number of total tyres that can be used.  Of course, endurance races are permitted more sets than sprint races.

The Suspension

At the kinds of speed these cars can produce, suspension is another important component.  Mandatory for the front-suspension is a double wishbone configuration.  However, the rear-suspension uses a system similar to the one used by the EL Falcon.  Known as a “live axle”, this design employs 4 longitudinal links and a Watt’s linkage.

For fans of the V8 supercar racing, these specifications guarantee an exciting and thrilling match-up between drivers.  When the aerodynamics, the power, the tyres and other factors are made equal the race comes down to who is the best driver.  Whose skill is superior on the track?  That is what racing fans, whether they are in Australia or Bahrain, want to find out when they come to see a race.