V8 Supercars expect a return to a 28-car grid next year after putting three of its unused Racing Entitlement Contracts out to tender ahead of the 2015 season.
The Racing Entitlement Contracts (RECs) have remained unused since three teams handed back their RECs at the end of 2013. Triple F Racing and Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport scaled back to one car each for 2014, while Tony D’Alberto Racing failed to raise the funding to carry on into the new season, reducing the number of cars on the grid to 25.
The tender process is being managed by independent auditing firm Ernst & Young and parties have until 8 July to register their interest.
Successful bidders will be able to compete in the series from the beginning of the 2015 season. Each REC entitles a party to race once car in each Championship event. The RECs can be purchased as single entries or in any combination.
V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton is positive that the process will attract attention.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to compete in one of the most successful categories in world motorsport and we believe there will be significant interest,” said Warburton.
V8 Supercars has also revealed it has interest in the licenses from numerous parties in Australia and overseas.
It is believed that American race car team owner and businessman Roger Penske is already in negotiations with Dick Johnson racing over a possible take over, with Marcos Ambrose heavily linked to a V8 Supercars return if the move goes ahead. News of the tender also presents Penske with an alternative option to buy one or more of the RECs.
Leading NASCAR team owner Richard Childress has also supposedly expressed an interest in a move into the Series and is looking to buy a team or at least establish a technical partnership with a current team.
