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BAHRAIN-STORM IN THE DESERT?
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:33 am
by Julian Mayo
A Storm in the desert.
The Bahrain track has been stormed by the V8Supercars as they undertook the first practice session of the second last round of the championship.
Results of practice.
Bright 1.24.0479
Tander
W'bottom
R Kelly
Davison,W.
Lowndes
Courtney
Bargs
T Kelly
S Richards 1.24.9735.
Please consult your local TV guides for CH 10, and Foxtel telecasts. With the time difference, be prepared for some late night viewing.
I assume lots of people will trade in their camels for holdens and fords after this round. Why else would we have a round of the Championship in beautiful Bahrains magnificent desert
There are no stats as they have not raced there.
Qualifying takes place today, or tonight, or yesterday......it depends on your own time zone.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:10 am
by jacfan
Operation Desert Storm 2?
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:14 am
by Julian Mayo
jacfan wrote:Operation Desert Storm 2?
dessert
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:15 am
by jacfan
A mere trifle?
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:20 am
by Julian Mayo
jacfan wrote:A mere trifle?
blowing rassberries at Cochrone and his bloody off shore antics with our V8s
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:28 am
by jacfan
Why are they over there? Sorry to be ignorant.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:31 am
by Julian Mayo
jacfan wrote:Why are they over there? Sorry to be ignorant.
Many many many fans, devotees etc, are pondering the same question
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:34 am
by jacfan
Oh.
Must admit I don't know why they need to race outside Australia.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:39 am
by Julian Mayo
jacfan wrote:Oh.
Must admit I don't know why they need to race outside Australia.
New Zealand has a huge fan base, with a number of top drivers hailing from there.
There are no Bahranians (?) driving V8s
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:48 am
by jacfan
Yeah NZ is fine but apart from that I don't see the point.
Must be something to do with money.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:49 am
by Julian Mayo
jacfan wrote:Yeah NZ is fine but apart from that I don't see the point.
Must be something to do with money.
Or megelomania
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:53 am
by jacfan
Probably.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:22 pm
by Ed
The Middle East is Holden's biggest export market. You can see plenty of Commodores and Statesmans over there. (They are called Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice over there)
Ford on the other hand don't export to the Middle East, not sure why!
I can see why a race would be a good marketing campaign for Holden but Ford, I am not sure!
With petrol prices so cheap over there and so expensive everywhere else, you'd expect Holden to concentrate their efforts on increasing that market.
A race in Barhain sounds more feasible than one in China!
Here is some info from the Holden web site on their exports to that area:
Holden's largest vehicle export market is the Middle East, where the Chevrolet Lumina (Commodore) sedans and wagons and long wheelbase V8-powered Chevrolet Caprice sedans (based on Statesman/Caprice) are the region's top selling GM models.
The Chevrolet Caprice Royale was named Saudi Arabia's 2004 Car Of The Year.
Commodore is exported to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Brunei and Brazil. The Caprice and Statesman are exported to Middle East regions and New Zealand.
In 2004, a year that marked the 50th anniversary of Holden's first vehicle export program, a record single-year total of 52,372 vehicles were exported.
2005 and Holden vehicle exports tallied 60,518 units, the best ever Export sales result.
The new Commodore (sorry Lumina) is just being launched in the Middle East.
Chevrolet Middle East website
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:38 pm
by Julian Mayo
Ed wrote:The Middle East is Holden's biggest export market. You can see plenty of Commodores and Statesmans over there. (They are called Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice over there)
Ford on the other hand don't export to the Middle East, not sure why!
I can see why a race would be a good marketing campaign for Holden but Ford, I am not sure!
With petrol prices so cheap over there and so expensive everywhere else, you'd expect Holden to concentrate their efforts on increasing that market.
A race in Barhain sounds more feasible than one in China!
Here is some info from the Holden web site on their exports to that area:
Holden's largest vehicle export market is the Middle East, where the Chevrolet Lumina (Commodore) sedans and wagons and long wheelbase V8-powered Chevrolet Caprice sedans (based on Statesman/Caprice) are the region's top selling GM models.
The Chevrolet Caprice Royale was named Saudi Arabia's 2004 Car Of The Year.
Commodore is exported to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Brunei and Brazil. The Caprice and Statesman are exported to Middle East regions and New Zealand.
In 2004, a year that marked the 50th anniversary of Holden's first vehicle export program, a record single-year total of 52,372 vehicles were exported.
2005 and Holden vehicle exports tallied 60,518 units, the best ever Export sales result.
The new Commodore (sorry Lumina) is just being launched in the Middle East.
Chevrolet Middle East website
This has been put forward a number of times as one of the primary reasons, however, the Lumina race held there some months ago would have been far more effective. What if Fords are the first 5 cars home?
If this is the primary reason for racing there, Ford should be competing with its Explorer model.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:58 pm
by Ed
It is certainly a reason. Don't know if it is the primary reason!
I am sure the organisers would like to expand the series beyond Australia and New Zealand and have a few races in Asia and a couple in Europe. Just like Touring cars are doing but the other way!
There might also be the idea of a local V8 Supercars in the Middle East.
What do you think the real reason is though
