More numbers available

From 2015, the V8 Supercars and Dunlop Series will have their own number pools. That means a car in both categories can run #1, though previously they were not able to double up.

This allows teams that run in both categories to align their numbers - and Brad Jones, who operates teams across both categories and is on the V8 Supercars Commission, is all for it.

"I just think it makes sense to have different categories have their own number pool," Jones said. "Like Porsche have their own number group, I think V8 Supercars Dunlop Series should have theirs."

BJR has applied for numbers 8 and 14 - which they run in the main game with Jason Bright and Fabian Coulthard behind the wheel - fortheir Dunlop Series V8 Supercars, to align the teams.

Someone else pleased with the ruling is Michael Caruso, who is eying his old karting number 10, which has until now been locked away in the development category.

"How it stands at the moment, I'm after number 10 to change over - obviously 36 will be irrelevant for next year for our team," Caruso told v8supercars.com.au.

With the Nissan team's Norton backing, running number #360 was significant for the sponsor, and running #36 alongside made sense.

However, with a sponsorship change for 2015, Caruso believes he's in for a shot at getting his childhood number back.

"For me, number 10 is pretty significant because it's a number I won my very first go kart race with," he explained.

"So to have your first race win with the number and be here racing in the top touring car category in the world, obviously would be pretty special for me... it'd be great to have the number than means something to me and that the fans can hopefully recognise that represents me.

"Who knows, hopefully I carry that on for the rest of my career."

Some higher numbers are kept unused by V8 Supercars in case teams and drivers wish to acknowledge certain milestones, such as 100, 200, and 250. One of the more recent and memorable number switches was Russell Ingall running #226 as he broke the record for the most event starts in a V8 Supercar last year at Townsville, while running Walkinshaw Racing's Supercheap Auto Commodore.

One question is whether teams that are associated with specific numbers - such as #888 - will be able to stop them being used on a car that is not aligned with the Championship team. However, Director of Sport, Operations and Sanctioned Events explained triple numbers weregenerally only approved with a commercially acceptable reason.

Only one number has been retired in V8 Supercars/Australian Touring Car Championship history - '05' which was run by the late, great Peter Brock.

The news is just one of the changes that implemented in the 2015 Operations Manual, circulated to teams yesterday.

Stay tuned to v8supercars.com.au for news on new numbers, liveries and changes ahead of the 2015 V8 Supercars season.