The V8 Ute Racing Series, known originally as the V8 BRute Utes was an Australian motor racing series for utilities, derived from the Australian Production Car Championship. It was conceived in 2000 by PROCAR chief and owner Ross Palmer, V8 Ute Patron Ian McAlister and Procar employee Craig Denyer and launched March 2001, as V8 Brute Utes, at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. The series was instantly popular, in part because of aggressive driving style of competitors, a style encouraged by the use of reverse grid racing, but also because of its very fan friendly marketing which included gimmicks like referring to each of its drivers by a nickname.
For most, V8 Utes Racing Series entry was via a franchise, which had been limited to 32 in number, 16 specifically to be Ford Falcon (Australia) XR8 Utes, 16 Holden Utes. All the rounds were shared with Supercars Championship, Australia's top motorsport championship.
Holden driver Rod Wilson was the inaugural series winner. Sydney's Warren Luff, took back to back victories in 2002 and 2003. Holden again returned to form in 2004 with Damien White taking the series title, before defecting to Ford and taking the title again in 2005 by a narrow margin to Melbourne's Marcus Zukanovic.
Ryal Harris is the series most successful driver, becoming the first three-time series winner in 2015. Luff and White have each won two titles.
The series covered eight rounds at various tracks throughout Australia. The reverse grid racing format was extremely popular with the race fans. Drivers have included former Australian NASCAR champion Kim Jane, actor George Elliot, country music singer Adam Brand, television host Grant Denyer, driving instructor Gary Baxter, former Waratahs and Australian Sevens rugby union player Ben Dunn, former Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters National Rugby League player Jack Elsegood who was also the 2009 series winner, and former Supercar drivers Cameron McConville and Nathan Pretty.
The Ford Falcon Ute ceased production in 2016, and the Holden Ute ceased production in 2017. As a consequence moves began to wrap the series up at the end of 2016, but the replacement, the SuperUtes Series was not ready for a 2017 launch. SuperUtes, featuring turbo diesel powered dual-cab Utility vehicles, launched in 2018.
The V8 Ute Racing Series was in most part successful given it was professionally managed by Category Management company SPHERIX. A Partnership formed by Bill West and Craig Denyer.
Series winners
V8 Ute Racing Series Year Winner Vehicle 2001 Rod Wilson Holden SS Ute 2002 Warren Luff Ford Falcon Ute 2003 Warren Luff Ford Falcon Ute 2004 Damien White Holden SS Ute 2005 Damien White Ford Falcon Ute 2006 Marcus Zukanovic Ford Falcon Ute 2007 Grant Johnson Holden SS Ute 2008 Layton Crambrook Ford Falcon Ute 2009 Jack Elsegood Ford Falcon Ute 2010 Grant Johnson Holden SS Ute 2011 Chris Pither Holden SS Ute 2012 Ryal Harris Ford Falcon Ute 2013 Ryal Harris Ford Falcon Ute 2014 Kris Walton Ford Falcon Ute 2015 Ryal Harris Ford Falcon Ute 2016 David SiedersSeries Points Report, racing.natsoft.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org Holden SS Ute 2017 Kim Jane Holden SS Ute
Summer Series
Year Winner Vehicle 2004 Grant Denyer Ford Falcon Ute
Multiple winners Drivers WinsDriverYears3 Ryal Harris2012–2013, 20152 Grant Johnson2007, 2010 Warren Luff2002–2003 Damien White2004–2005
Manufacturer WinsManufacturerYears10Ford 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012–20157Holden 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017
References
CAMS – CAMS Manual – PROCAR –
External links
NZV8 Ute Racing Series official website