UTE: V8 Brutes on schedule for Adelaide debut

AUSTRALIA'S unique new racing series for V8 utes is on schedule for a spectacular debut at the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide on 5-8 April.

Organiser of the V8 BRUTE series, PROCAR Australia, is confident five Holden Commodore SS utes and five Ford Falcon XR8 Pursuits will be constructed in time for three pre-season demonstration races on the Adelaide city street circuit.

The six-round national championship, which launches on 5-6 May at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn, will be contested by up to 20 utes.

The V8 BRUTES are being built in Brisbane to identical =B3control" specifications, but work has been slowed by short supply of the utes, which are in high demand in new-car showrooms.

Constructor and test driver Wayne Park has six utes almost complete in his workshop, with four more expected from dealers over the next week, although further work is needed to ensure the Falcons and Commodores hit the track with equal performance.

Park set a best lap time of 62.0 seconds in testing a prototype Commodore on the 2.4 km Lakeside circuit last week, but has yet to try a fully-developed Falcon.

"We've found a few small reliability issues to overcome for racing, but providing the last few utes come through from the dealers in time, I'm very hopeful of getting 10 of equal performance on the transporter to Adelaide," said PROCAR Chief Executive Ross Palmer.

Entrants for the Adelaide debut include Rod Wilson (Commodore, Vic.), Grant Denyer (Falcon, Vic.), Ian McAlister (Falcon, NSW), Damien White (Falcon, NSW), Gary MacDonald (Holden, NSW), Charlie Kovacs (Commodore, SA) and Bob Middleton (Commodore, SA).

Wilson, who also will supply identical Pirelli tyres for all the V8 BRUTES, says the forthcoming series has attracted tremendous interest.

"Everyone is looking forward to the V8 BRUTES. They're going to be exciting to drive and spectacular to watch - but my prediction is the Holden will be the one to beat," he said.

-Chris Nixon