V8 Supercars Vs Formula 1

Sadly, the V8 Supercars series is confined to Australia. The series offers a glance back in time to the old style of racing of years gone by when emissions weren’t recognized as such a big problem, and large gas-guzzling engines were everywhere and universally loved by petrol heads.

V8 Supercars offer similar performance to the 2022 Formula One cars, and while they don’t have the agility, they offer real brute power. The acceleration times are almost the same as Formula One cars, and the top speed is significantly faster, making the series so absorbing for the fans.

If you have never watched a V8 Supercars race, we recommend that you log into YouTube and search for an example. You will be captivated on end up sitting on the edge of your seat as you watch drivers jostle for position, where the only real differential is the driver’s skill.

If you’re looking for some F1 merchandise, check out the awesome stuff at the official F1 store here.

Which Is Better, V8 Supercars Or A Formula 1 Car

This article compares the 2022 Formula One car and the V8 cars running in Australia’s touring V8 Supercars racing series.

The two racing disciplines are completely different, not only because the cars are a paradigm shift away from each other but also the type of tracks on which the cars are run, as well as the difference in audience and viewership figures.

The manufacturers who participate in the V8 Supercars competition are.

• Ford
• Holden
• Mercedes
• Nissan
• Volvo

Which Has The More Powerful Engine?

For comparison purposes, the 2022 Mercedes W13 car has been chosen because, based on its 2022 performance, it represents the average Formula One car, not the fastest or slowest.

The power units installed in each of these vehicles are as follows.

V8 Supercars

The engine specifications of the V8 Supercars are as follows. The cars must have an engine in the front, and the rules permit only rear-wheel-drive.

A 5.0-liter powers the current generation of cars, naturally aspirated, V8-engine with indirect electronic fuel injection.

The engine produces somewhere between 620–650 bhp (460 and 485 kW) and is not allowed to rev higher than 7500rpm

The V8 Supercars weigh  3,075 lb (1,395 kilograms). Therefore, the cars have a power-to-weight ratio of 0.211 to one lb.

2022 F1 Mercedes W13 Model

The Mercedes W13 specifications are.

The car is powered by three “engines,” as follows.

• Six-cylinder 1.6 liters Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)
• Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K)
• Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H)

The estimated horsepower produced by the three engines is

• Internal Combustion Engine – 650 hp
• MGU-K – 161 hp
• MGU-H – 121 hp

The total from all three units is estimated at 950 hp.

The 2022 Formula One regulations require that Formula One cars cannot weigh less than 1,760lbs (798kgs). Therefore, the cars have a power-to-weight ratio of 0.54 to one lb.

What Is The Performance Difference?

The performance of each car is detailed below.

V8 Supercars

V8 Supercars front-engine, rear-wheel-drive touring style racing car.

The V8 Supercars’ performance specifications are detailed in the table below.

The 2022 Mercedes W13

The W13 is a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, single-seat, open-cockpit, open-wheel formula racing car.

The W13 performance specifications are detailed in the table below.

How Does The Handling Compare?

The table below provides this comparison.

How Does The Safety Of Each Car Type Compare?

The safety systems on each car are shown below.

How Comfortable Is Each Car?

The two-car types have very different comfort requirements.

Summary Of V8 Supercars And Formula 12022 Mercedes W13

To make the comparison of the two cars easier, the following summarizes each of the relevant metrics.

Which Is The Easier Car To Work On?

If you are looking for a true comparison, another consideration is how easy or difficult the different car types are to work on.

V8 Supercars

The engine is a relatively simple conventional internal combustion unit.

V8 Supercars use a different system to other racing series in that there are several compulsory pitstops, the number which is required and the extent of work that is mandated, the amount of fuel that must be put in the tank, and the number of times the tires are changed differ from race to race.

If the V8 Supercars driver does not complete the required pit stops correctly, they are unable to stop before the race is suspended (for whatever reason). A penalty is added on top of their overall race time.

Eight pit crews can work on the car simultaneously, which are made up of the following duties.

• Car controller whose duty is to release the car back onto the circuit when the tire crews indicate they have finished changing the tires and the refueller has completed his duties.
• An air jack operator is responsible for lifting all four wheels off the ground for the tire changes.
• Even if all four wheels have been changed, the air jack operator must keep the car in the air until the refueling has been completed.
• A refueller is responsible for refueling the car with the high-pressure system and ensuring the minimum regulation quantity is put into the tank.  
• The fire attendant
• Four other mechanics are working on various car parts, including tire changes and minor tuning functions.

In a typical pit stop, the V8 Supercar crew will

• The ground wire is attached.
• If there is a driver change, the first driver exits,
• The car is jacked up
• All four tires are changed.
• The fuel tank is filled up.
• The car is dropped back down.
• The new driver enters.
• The ground wire is removed.
• Carry out any minor tuning duties.

And this will be completed within a minimum time of 50 seconds. The minimum time is a regulation designed to assist with safety and ensure the teams don’t rush excessively.

Formula One Car

Formula One cars are very complex.

During a typical racing week, they are

• Transported 1,000s of miles to the next racing circuit
• Assembled for two days in the middle of the week.
• Depending on the format, they could run a sprint race on Friday.
• Qualify on Saturday.
• Race on Sunday afternoon.
• By the end of Sunday evening, the engineers will have taken the car apart and packed it for transport to another continent where the sequence of events is repeated.

In a race, teams change four tires in 2.5 – 3,0 seconds.

Similarly, the race teams can remove and replace a front nose unit in under ten seconds.

If there is a major accident before the race and the car is substantially damaged, some teams have been known to completely rebuild it, replace the engine and bring the aerodynamics back to spec before the next day.

How Much Does Each Car Cost?

All the cars featured in this comparison cost an absurdly large amount of money; however, the Formula One Car has no rivals.

• V8 Supercars – $570,000 (predicted starting price)
• 2022 Mercedes W13 – $70,000,000 (based on an annual budget cap of $140 million per team)            

It means that the cost for each unit of horsepower is

• V8 Supercars – $876.00
• 2022 Mercedes W13 – $73,684.00

To say that the Formula One car is at a different economic level is an understatement!

A Word About The Different Series

Apart from the obvious differences in e equipment raced, the two series have many significant differences affecting the spectator enjoyment.

There Is More Chance Of A Variety Of Winners In V8 Supercars

One of the main structural differences

V8 Supercars

There are 26 cars in a V8 supercar race, and because regulations standardize chassis and engine requirements, at least 2/3rds of the field have a genuine possibility of achieving a podium finish.

Formula One

Formula One is trying to level the playing field by imposing strict controls over the car specifications, the ability to follow closely, and the cost cap per team.

It will take several seasons before the institutionalized advantages that the top three teams have (Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes) begin to dilute, and all the teams end up on a level footing.

The Two Disciplines Differ In Strategy

There are different types of excitement between the two series.

V8 Supercars

The action starts when the flag drops and continues through the race, with lead positions regularly changing.

Formula One

Depending on which circuit is being raced, Formula One can sometimes be a procession of cars driving around a track with few overtaking opportunities.

Monaco is a classic example of this, and unless you are a serious F1 fan, it can be likened to watching paint dry.

The Sounds Are Different

The engines make very different sounds.

V8 Supercars

There is nothing quite like the sound of a V8 engine at high revs and under strain. For the avid motorhead, it is the sound of a choreographed symphony.

Formula One

Sadly, the days of V12 and V8 engines are a thing of the past; with that, some of the atmosphere has left the building.

Conclusion

Formula One is the most-watched motorsport worldwide and grows its fan base yearly. Other regional motorsport events have the same, if not more nail-biting excitement, and the V8 Supercar series deserves mention.

References

• Wikipedia
• https://www.supercars.com/
• https://www.speedcafe.com/2017/03/03/djrtp-pushes-supercars-cockpit-safety-new-level/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercars_Championship#Engine_and_drivetrain