V8 Supercar racing might be flashy, fast and furious, but we’d be telling a massive fib if we suggested it was at the cutting edge of technology.

Not that its relatively low-tech nature – at least in comparison to other motorsport, especially F1 – is a bad thing. The sport’s administrators go to great lengths to entertain fans while keeping a tight reign on team budgets by minimising gadgets, space-age materials and other costly tech-head niceties.

Arguably the biggest technological developments come in the coverage of the sport, with Network Ten (covered elsewhere in this V8X) and BigPond always on the look out for innovations. And for season ’06, BigPond is again planning to introduce some whiz-bang activities and features on its dedicated V8 Supercar broadband site.

Before we list what’s new and improved, we should point out that BigPond will continue to show full vision of qualifying and the top-10 shootout live. For the races, the internet service provider reverts to showing live in-car vision and telemetry, so as not to cut Ten’s grass.

The main new addition in BigPondland is a V8 Supercar tipping competition. Registration for the ‘fantasy racing’ comp will open before the Clipsal 500, with prizes to be won from Pukekohe’s second round. There will be an individual round winner (and place-getters) and an overall champion, with the highest-placed broadband member winning a trip for two to the 2007 Adelaide opener.

Neil Crompton anchors another season of The Panel Beaters Show. The ever popular `live' broadcasts will be a feature throughout the year.

Tipsters will be asked to nominate who they think will finish in the top five at each round and will compete against sports stars.

The contest will be promoted via The PanelBeaters, so you can bet your life that Messrs Crompton, Jones and Rust will add to the fun.

By popular demand a new version of the BigPond V8 Supercar screensaver is all go. As with 2005, the screensaver will be updated after every round with images and video.

"Over 40,000 screensavers were downloaded during 2005," says Sandra Davey, Manager BigPond Sport. "So we know it’s popular."

As for the dedicated V8 site itself, it will sport a new look and round-by-round navigation, making it easier for fans to access round information.

BigPond’s live round coverage will give diehards about eight hours of action, reports and daily video highlights per V8 weekend.

BigPond also has some surprises in store, including new and revised editions of the behind-the-scenes red and blue diaries.

"They were very popular last season," says Davey. "And anything with a crash in it rates so high (on the viewing list), so BigPond will continue to create those awesome crash compiles we started to see last year."

Speaking of The PanelBeaters, the innovative chat show is back for more.

"All shows can be accessed live across the world on broadband and dial-up (no pictures), with four shows planned in front of a live studio audience," says Davey.

Our tip is that The PanelBeaters will reach a new level of popularity in 2006, given that its television counterpart, V8 Superstars, has bitten the dust. Neil Crompton, Brad Jones and Greg Rust are all witty buggers and bounce one-liners off each other with ease. And what’s more, you get to hear what they say without a cast of thousands constantly interrupting!

The BigPond V8 Supercar Broadband website is set for a bit of a revamp.

And keep reading V8X for news on how to get a guernsey in the live studio audience. These special programs are traditionally hosted from BigPond’s hospitality suite at major events.

"We will continue to podcast The PanelBeaters as the shows have been overwhelmingly popular," says Davey. "To underline the show’s reach around the world, and just how much fans love it, each week over summer we were downloading as many shows as we did during the season. It’s just fantastic to think that the Eastern Creek show last year (recorded in May) is still being listened to!"

V8 fans can also expect to see some other ground-breaking technology from BigPond in 2006, with Davey revealing we should prepare for a new buzz word, Viiv.

More on Viiv in a coming in V8X, but Intel is set to make a splash in the home digital entertainment market with this new product. Viiv is set to become the standard for sharing media in the loungeroom and around the house, be it photos, videos or music. For instance, those who purchase a Viiv compatible PC can watch the Supercars in their loungerooms on their TVs.

So, one way or another, watch this space. Or should that be: watch this cyperspace?