V8s change Parity system

15/05/2008 V8 Supercars chief executive officer Wayne Cattach has revealed that the old parity system has been tweaked while a new model is in the pipeline.

The old system used a mathematical formula which sampled the performance of both Holden and Ford cars in the field to determine parity.

Cattach said the system, which he helped introduce to V8 Supercars eight years ago, “has served us very well”.

“So I was surprised to see that that had been dismantled,” he said.

“I've gone back to the board and said I don't believe that this is sensible.

“And I believe that they are of the view that it should be reinstated, but not the same model as was in place.”

Cattach said a new parity model was being worked on to better suit the V8s.

“(The parity system) was suspended, it's now being reintroduced and fine tuned,” he said.

“We're in the process of reintroducing it so there's not going to be any decision made in relation to parity until such stage is that is in place.”

In the interim, a set of guidelines will determine parity.

Ford Performance Racing team manager and V8 Supercar board member Tim Edwards confirmed that the old system had not been in place since the start of the year.

“What's written in the regulations is what we are working under,” he said.

“In the regulations there's still a parity system but it just doesn't work on the mathematical model which was there before.”

Edwards said besides the regulations, team owners were also welcome to raise parity issues with the V8 Supercars board.

“All we have said is...if somebody comes up with a better model for managing parity then we will listen.”

Jack Daniel's Racing owner Larry Perkins, who is also a V8 Supercar board member, stressed that a parity system with technical specifications was still in place.

“The technical regulations are the cornerstone for parity with the specifications of the components being the same for each make,” he said.

“No one needs to be concerned,” he said.

“We have had the parity formula since 1993 and the V8 Supercar board will ensure that parity exists.”

Both Perkins and Edwards believed that the technical specifications system was working well.

Edwards said the racing had never been closer.

“It came down to two points between a Ford and a Holden for the Championship last year,” he said.

“How much closer can you get?”