Although the topic is definitely nothing new, I think it needs revisiting. VASC’s have been on the payTV platform for a few years now, which has meant that the grassroots & vast majority of their fan base, has been unable to view their favorite homegrown motorsport series. Mostly nothing has changed in their day to day running of the series. The season has started off with the Adelaide street circuit race weekend which has always garnered a lot of local support, with big crowds turning up and OK free to air TV ratings. Other than the Australian F1 GP, which follows shortly after Adelaide, the series then goes into hibernation, as far as anyone without payTV subscription is concerned, when the live ftaTV coverage disappears, and the only way to see the live racing is to obtain a payTV subscription. They dangle the odd carrot to the fans with a couple of free to air races leading up to their endurance racing season. Being up against both the AFL and NRL footy seasons from March onwards, that attract massive ftaTV ratings, I don’t know whether VASC’s have put up the white flag or not. However they elected to take the much larger payTV cheque, and forgo the possible loss of their fanbase, when going over to the payTV network. From my perspective, as a motorsport fan, I am not prepared to pay to watch it, as I don’t consider it all that worthwhile. I’d certainly follow the sport, as I did in years gone by, if it was on free to air TV. My argument all along, has been the crazy notion by the payTV provider, that I am expected to pay to watch something at an extortionate price, when I have no interest whatsoever, in any other of the rubbish TV that I get in their package. If the offer was there to cherry pick what you wanted, without all the extra unwanted garbage they force you to take, it may be worth looking at, depending on the price tag.

Why is this topic worth revisiting? Today, has seen the news that Craig Lowndes, who is Virgin Australia Supercars, most marketable personality, is retiring from full-time driving at the end of the current season. Now……why is this liable to have such a great effect on the sport? In my opinion, he is by far, their best asset. He is not their only asset, but is far and away their greatest one. I would defy anyone out in the general populous to name a handful of drivers currently racing in the series. I would defy most people out there in the general populous to name the current VASC’s champion. I would defy most to name their winning-est driver ever. Look…if you hung in there long enough, you would find someone who could possibly get some of those answers correct, however, my point here, is that the series must get itself back onto free to air TV, or lose whatever relevancy they have left, on the Australian sporting landscape.

As a motorsport fan, I have just about given up on Australian motorsport altogether. It has become too hard to follow the local categories. Whenever I have brought it up with any local motorsports people, I get the standard replies, of subscribing to Fox, or I mustn’t be as dedicated as I make myself out to be.

Well, people…… I love my motorsport! I have done so, for the vast majority of my life! But, when other categories overseas, not only actively pursue fans, but go a long way to promote and keep their fan-base with brilliant coverage via live streaming, with fantastic live timing, and repeat races up and available immediately, it makes it a no-brainer to try (mostly unsuccessfully) to keep up live, with what’s happening on the local motorsport front.

IT IS JUST TOO F*****G HARD.

With my love of sports car racing, I am certainly not getting too carried away at the thought of missing out on the local, sub standard AustralianGT amateur hour race series. Apparently, AusGT has now seen the light, and has gone back to a free live streaming service to show their racing in Australia. Sorry….Too little, too late for me!

I have become used to getting a premium product, LIVE & FREE from overseas, from the absolutely brilliant  Blancpain, ADAC GT Masters and VLN race series. I pay a modest fee to get the World Endurance super season LIVE AND COMMERCIAL FREE. I can watch the Japanese SuperGT racing LIVE & FREE. I follow the American IMSA racing LIVE & FREE streaming service, with the FREE Radio Le Mans audio coverage. I can follow both the Nurburgring 24H and Spa 24H LIVE AND FREE. The annual Bathurst 12 Hour race at the iconic Mt Panorama circuit, is shown LIVE AND FREE on the Seven network. The Bathurst 1000 is shown LIVE on FREE TO AIR TV. Together with the aforementioned motorsport series, I follow NRL and Cricket in their respective seasons, LIVE AND FREE. Speaking of which, Cricket Australia have signed up with the Seven network to a new exciting FREE TO AIR TV coverage from next summer.

So, unfortunately………………… Virgin Australia Supercars and Australian motorsport…….Sorry, you’ve lost me. My motorsport event diary is full. Call me, when you’ve had a change of heart.  I’ll see if I can fit you in. However, I won’t be holding my breath waiting. Sadly, for the future of the sport in Australia, a lot of other people have made the same decision.