Driving into Asia
V8 Supercars Chief Executive Officer James Warburton wants at least two Asian events on the Championship calendar by 2017.
The category is running a demonstration at the inaugural KL City Grand Prix this weekend, and Warburton believes this is a sign of things to come, with at least one other Asian event on the horizon for V8 Supercars.
Speaking to v8supercars.com.au earlier this year, he revealed that an MoU was signed for 2017 - and Warburton again reinforced the value of a second race in Asia yesterday.
The V8 Supercars are set to return to Kuala Lumpur next year, with the event becoming an additional Championship round on the calendar, though Warburton reminded fans only limited international events would make the cut moving forward.
"We've been very clear about the fact that we're an Australian series that will have a couple of international races - two maybe three in time - but it's actually about getting it right," he said at the opening press conference of the KL City Grand Prix.
Logistics and freight are key parts of finding that right fit - with 25 V8 Supercars, spare parts and panels, plenty of crew members, and all that is required for the show to function.
"That's a big part of our model, economics of freight," Warburton continued.
"Air freight in, sea freight back - [there's] a lot of logistics.
"We've got some 50 people with five cars [here in KL] - just to put it in perspective, that's not a Championship race.
"So we have to get the freight model right and most likely, two events by 2017.
"But it's about the right events and from day one this - a street circuit in the absolute heart of the city - without doubt is a great way for us to start our international circuit."
Sixteen Championship rounds is the right number for Warburton - there's currently 14 on the calendar this year, as well as the non-Championship Formula One Australian Grand Prix and the pre-season SuperTest.
While the city street race is a model Warburton likes, and feels will be effective for both V8 Supercars and the destination of choice, the MoU in place with another Asian location is a permanent circuit.
"We've signed a heads of agreement for 2017," he told v8supercars.com.au.
"It's not a street circuit, it's a track facility and it's based on building criteria, but on the back of everything we've been exploring in Asia, there is strong interest for us to be here across a range of other categories."
International races have been staged in Shanghai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and most recently Austin, Texas and while there has been negativity about the limitations around returning to some, Warburton reminded critics there were plenty of positives for the forays, and those that had issues were not from the V8 Supercars end.
"You've got to take opportunities as they come up ... we had five amazing years at Abu Dhabi and that was and still is - we look at the vision - it was absolutely extraordinary," he said.
"We were at the cutting edge, we were there before anyone else, some of those pictures coming out - sure it wasn't a massive crowd, but it was extraordinary. It helped put those countries on a map from a sporting perspective."
Stay tuned to v8supercars.com.au for all the news from teh KL City Grand Prix.
