John Bowe: Why the Clipsal 500 is so good

What a stellar opening to the 2015 V8 Supercars season - the Clipsal 500 Adelaide was a superb event once again! It had everything we've come to expect and more. There were some outstanding performances.

The event was huge, one of the biggest (crowds) on record I believe. It certainly felt like it, congrats to the event organisers, volunteers, staff and the fans who support the event and of course the support categories helped put on a super show!

It was an impeccable performance by James Courtney - congrats to Adrian Burgess and HRT. I suspect James is entering a zone lots of us have, where confidence grows and your performance/results grow with it.

Jamie Whincup had it for a long time, while James had it when he won the Championship in 2010 with DJR - I'd call it Champion swagger!

I think my crystal balling about Volvo and Nissan was (somewhat) correct but didn't quite blossom on the streets of Adelaide - however, there were emerging signs they are closing the gap.

I read that Chaz [Mostert] was gutted after his big last lap accident - so imagine how James Moffat would feel, he had a great result within reach and through no fault of his own was involved in the Mostert shunt.

I'm pleased the judges leveled no blame at Jamie; he was clearly not at fault. You drive around the outside there at your own peril, we've seen it lots of times in the past.

There was plenty of good pace shown by HRT, Brad Jones Racing (well done Fabian Coulthard, race two winner), Red Bull (race one winner - Jamie), Tekno/The Giz, Prodrive Racing with Chaz and Frosty, and Nissan, who were close over the weekend. We are in for a cracker season, I reckon.

Clipsal is the strongest indication V8 Supercars is alive and well and any negative rubbish going around about the health of our number one motorsport category is just that - rubbish!

At this point though, I must take exception with my very dear friend Dick Johnson.

In our 11 year driving partnership we never had a disagreement - but at a press conference with Roger Penske over the weekend, he was quoted as saying the 2017 rules would be the wrong move for the category.

I disagree completely, and as I understand so does everybody either in the sport or close to it.

The world is changing, to attract more manufacturers we need to open up the engine rules, that's what V8 Supercars will do in 2017.

Turbo charging is the future in road car production and many manufacturers are building and developing efficient and powerful turbo engines.

I could see DJR Team Penske racing a Mustang Coupe, sold here in Australia with a turbo four cylinder, actually racing a Turbo 4 cylinder Stang - it's very possible.

Nissan may use a V6 turbo, maybe Chrysler might choose a V10 like in their Viper - variety is very attractive and the new rules could give us variety without taking away from what we already have.

The engines can be made relatively equal with modern technology and a modern means of measuring. The GT3 category has done it now for a few years and it works well at a world level.

There are V12, V10, big V8s, smaller V8s, turbo V8s, and turbo V6s. Let me tell you there's not much between any of them other than a bit of circuit suitability.

Sorry Dick, this may be our first disagreement in 27 years.

Also worth a mention - Marcos Ambrose's Clipsal weekend. I think his Saturday results were where I thought he'd be (initially) - I know he'd expect more of himself.

Marcos' top 10 quali on Sunday and landing in the shootout was an outstanding effort. Not really surprising though - he's a class act. Didn't he wring the neck of his 17 Shell Falcon on his ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout lap?

Finishing 12th in Sunday's 250km race and he was as high as seventh in the pit/fuel cycle during the race - I know Roger Penske was pleased and said he was massively impressed with the category/racing and Clipsal as an event.

So I guess we take that as a YES from a chap that knows a little about the business!

I recorded all the FOX SPORTS sessions from Adelaide ... man oh man, for a motorsport head it's like dying and going to heaven. So much motorsport, I reckon it will take me a week to watch it all.

I don't want to start a war here ... but to say the TV coverage of our sport has gone to a new level with the arrival of Foxtel and Channel TEN. And without the TV money V8 Supercars would not survive ... it's that simple!

My own research tells me folks absolutely loved the Foxtel coverage.

I understand when something is free we become accustomed to it. It costs about $20 each to go to the movies with a friend or partner. By the time you buy popcorn and a drink you've ripped up a $50 note for a few hours entertainment - can you see where I am heading here?

A box of beer is about $50 ... for as little as about $2 a day, you get nine Sport and 43 Entertainment channels on Fox. Given what I've seen of Clipsal races I've replayed so far - motorsport TV has gone to a whole new level!

I spoke to a couple of Foxtel execs over the weekend - they told me subscriptions for the V8 Supercar package have been very strong and continued to climb since pricing was released. Enough said!

The support categories have never had it so good (in terms of TV coverage) and doesn't my mate Murph make a good commentator! No dummy spits - hooray! I think we're in for a ripper season across Fox and TEN, well done to the V8 Media folk who build the delivery of the content.

The V8 Supercar season opener could not be held at a better venue, nor have more dramatic races. But for 2016, please bring back the 250km race on Saturday?

The two shorter races just don't provide the high level drama or intensity, nor are they as challenging enough for the drivers. I think to back up on Sunday for the same is the supreme test on one of the most unforgiving grueling circuits in the country. That's my two cents worth anyway.

Cheers,JB

Follow John Bowe on Facebook. Bowe is supported by Wilson Security, Dunlop Super Dealers and Coates Hire, and competing in the 2015 Touring Car Masters Championship.