V8 Supercars Australia is yet to receive any wildcard submissions to race against main game drivers like Shane van Gisbergen (pictured) for the Sydney Telstra 500.
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By Briar Gunther 2:10 PM Wed 8 September, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
Last Friday was officially the cut-off point for wildcard applications for this year’s Sydney Telstra 500 but none were received.
As per the criteria V8 Supercars Australia (V8SA) outlined when the Board approved the one-off wildcard entries for selected events, applications must be submitted three months before the nominated event.
V8SA Media Manager Cole Hitchcock told BigPond Sport that although the deadline had passed, the category would continue to consider any submissions for the Sydney Telstra 500.
“There are still opportunities available, but given that the deadline has passed (for Sydney) any submissions from this point forward would require them to be virtually too good to refuse,” he said.
“I think there is a genuine interest out there on a wildcard entry and that may not just be for Sydney.”
There were moves to enter Marcos Ambrose as a wildcard in last year’s Sydney 500, but unfortunately the rules then didn’t allow such a move. Rumours are rife that Ambrose is considering returning to V8s as a one-off for this year’s event.
Hitchcock pointed out that time constraints could have played a part in a lack of wildcard applications received so far for this year’s Sydney event, but he said he could see why potential wildcard applicants would want to race there.
“The Sydney Telstra 500 is a marquee event with the backing of Telstra and being held in the country’s largest city at a venue that is purpose built for what we do,” he said.
“The guidelines that we’ve set are very stringent and are set that way for a good reason so people need to realise if they are going to make a submission they have to have every area completely covered or they will be wasting their time.”
A three-month lead-time for wildcard applicants might seem long but Hitchcock said it wasn’t.
“Three months in a season isn’t that long given we’re about to enter into a very hectic six events in quick succession and there are a lot of considerations the Board and teams would have to make with any wildcard application, not to mention the rules and regulations that would need to be considered before they make a decision,” he said.
Hitchcock also noted that it would take teams a fair chunk of time to physically prepare an extra car for a wildcard entry.
