Where once the driver-dominated TEGA organisation used to hold the whip hand of influence in touring car racing, a none-too-subtle shift of emphasis has seen the shiny suits of the marketing men and beancounters at AVESCO become the powerbrokers behind V8 Supercars.

No longer do the vested individual interests of the driver group or manufacturers become the primary considerations. Instead the balance of power has been replaced by the business savvy and nous of men whose connections and influence reach into the very inner sanctums of politics, television companies and corporate Australia.

In a remarkably short space of time V8 Supercars have gone from hobby to hot property, from a well kept secret to the sporting success story of the new millennium. Not bad for a category of cars once labelled as dinosaurs.

This move from virtually amateur to professional status has come at the expense of previously powerful players - our 'Top 10' excludes any promoters with one (new) notable exception. Not surprisingly, our list of most influential people is monopolised by the AVESCO Board, whose profits from operations are dished out to the competitors (TEGA: 67.5%), marketing men (SEL: 22.5%) and controlling body (CAMS: 10%)

10. Garry Rogers

(Ex-TEGA Executive, General Manager Garry Rogers Motorsport)

A joker among the pack, Rogers is irreverent but intelligent. Holds the purse strings to all Valvoline's racing budget and has taken his small, tight-knit team to prominence on a combination of youth (Bargs and Garth) and Sinatra ('I did it my way') policies. Instrumental as part of TEGA Exec in forming the new V8 Supercar Lites, Rogers has grown in stature in tandem with his team's fortunes. Can have some radical ideas but would you buy a car from a man who dresses in only a loin cloth on the grid at Darwin? You betcha!

9. Howard Marsden

(General Manager Ford Racing)

Howie is back. Behind the well educated, clipped, measured British accent is a racing brain with a long pedigree of success and experience - just the sort of man Ford needed to employ to reverse their embarrassing homologation gaffes. An oasis of calm among the hurly burly hubbub of V8 fender-bendering, Marsden has quickly elevated himself above successful team management roles of the past so there is no reason to think he won't quickly become an even more major player in Supercars.

8. John Stevenson

(Holden Motor Sport Manager)

Since 'Stevo' took over the reins at his GM post, he has obviously picked up the savvy to keep Commodores winning in that most difficult of all games called 'parity'. His role includes each Holden homologation exercise and liaison with every one of the Holden-backed teams to keep the General ahead of the Blue Oval. Will often be seen at race meetings lurking in consultation with close buddy and PR guru Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton, dreaming up some scam to garner more Holden headlines.

7. Wayne Cattach

(TEGA Executive)

Dick Johnson wouldn't pick just anybody to look after his hard won Shell sponsorship dollars and Wayne was the obvious executive to move on to the AVESCO day-to-day business. Prefers to play straight man to Cochrane but exudes the quiet air of confidence and authority to handle such a position. Has the business smarts and the vision to look beyond existing boundaries, which is why he is an automatic starter in his role.

6. John Crennan

(HRT Team Director, HSV Managing Director)

Big man, big job. If you controlled the purse strings to HRT, who would you hire or fire? Exerts an inordinate amount of influence within the sport given how little racing he attends. But then who else can say they have the biggest merchandising outfit on the block? Very much a model politician in a political world of big business and has to be good at his role to have survived so long. The successful dynasty that is HSV and HRT is evidence of Crennan's power, their race monopoly another reason.

5. Tim Schenken

(Race Director/Motorsport Manager CAMS)

The former F1 driver carries the responsibility of each SCS round's racing on broad shoulders. 'Hugo' is the Boss at race meetings and, as Race Director, wields the power to 'stop 'n go' if you get on his wrong side. Perhaps the most eminently qualified individual for the task which is one of the least-loved roles in all of motor sport. Sometimes the temperature can get pretty hot in the CAMS kitchen.

4. Geoff Jones

(General Manager, IMG)

The newest boy on the V8 Supercar block in terms of a racing background, but IMG wields a mighty big and impressive stick. IMG's influence as a race promoter has well and truly overtaken the once-traditional powerbase of permanent circuit owners. And why not? With Bathurst, Canberra, Adelaide, Surfers Indycar and now New Zealand superseding long time tracks such as Mallala, Lakeside and Wanneroo there is a huge shift in corporate emphasis. Just wait until Jones tries to assert his way with campers on Mount Panorama.

3. David White

(General Manager News, Sport & Current Affairs, Network 10)

The shift from Channel Seven to Network Ten has been perhaps the most influential factor behind the burgeoning growth of V8 Supercars. The advent of the RPM and Trackside free-to-air programs has spawned a record number of sponsors into the sport, all of whom vie for air time. White is a genuine fan of motor racing, as anyone sitting in a half empty grandstand on Saturday arvo at Oran Park would have seen as he revelled in anonymity watching the Privateer race.

2. Ross Brodie

(Motorsport & Sponsorship Manager, Shell Co of Australia)

Who could be as powerful as the man who makes the decisions to put up the dosh to sponsor the entire V8 Supercar SCS? Long time backer Shell not only sponsors the Series but provides the loot to look after Dick Johnson Racing. On race weekends Brodie can be seen winning over the crowd of Shell corporates during lunch, schmoozing in the DJR pit or presiding over high profile meetings behind closed doors. Up on the presentation podium, however, it must hurt to put that Shell winner's wreath around so many Mobil HRT necks!

1. Tony Cochrane

(AVESCO Chairman, SEL Director)

Call him the head honcho, top banana or V8 Messiah, Cochrane has a bark that equals his bite. From a major sports marketing (International Management Group) background, he and SEL partners James Erskine and Garry Craft have revolutionised V8 Supercars. While he'd never make Leigh's Dish of the Ish - unless your babe is into a power trip - 'No Baloney Tony' is comfortable in the corridors of V8 power brokerage. Aggressive, articulate, obstinate, omnipotent and vigorous are Cochrane's energetic efforts to sell the sport. Sarcasm is his favourite method of putting down opponents but he is equally at home milking the pollies to stump up the cash for street races.

The Fish that John West Rejects... Outside our top 10 are a number of people who merit inclusion but we just couldn't find room to fit them in. Some may be surprising omissions but they still exert major influence so here, in no specific order, are the 10 that John West rejected. Larry Perkins (Castrol-Perkins Engineering) Things have changed if LP can't muscle his way into any top 10 but, admittedly, the suits have taken precedence and power away from driver overalls. Larry is a grizzled, gruff campaigner whose views have to be respected - if not admired - as his engineering credentials complement his acknowledged skill behind the wheel. Make no bones about it, when Larry has something to say he comes right out and calls a spade an 'effing shovel!'. Just look at what happens when he wants to take CAMS to court. Jeff Grech (Holden Racing Team) Seems to have relished the pressure-packed responsibility at the helm of arguably (and statistically) the most dominant team of V8 Supercar racing. Occasionally shoots himself in the foot but no-one is perfect, although near-perfect isn't bad. How would you cope as Team Manager in charge of two such highly competitive drivers? Dick Johnson (Dick Johnson Racing) Ol' DJ has mellowed in retirement but still wields a lot of weight when it comes to decision making. Laconic and sardonic, Dick has people power behind him, which isn't a bad thing by any means. Anyone who can hang onto Shell bucks for so long obviously knows what he is doing even if results, of late, aren't forthcoming. Garry Dumbrell (Kmart Racing) A new player in the mix of Level 1 men whose business acumen was smart enough to become involved with a Bathurst-winning effort. Since taking over the reins of the former Gibson Motor Sport outfit, Murf and Richo have shown odd bursts of speed, notably Canberra where clever strategy shows Dumbrell's boys can't be discounted. The immaculately attired crew (ever seen the briefcases and blazers at the airport?) and full blown pit garage with catering team is indicative of how Dumbrell goes about his business. Mark Skaife (Holden Racing Team) Skaifey has graduated into role of the consummate smooth-talking professional whose opinions are sought on driver ethics, safety and team-related television appearances. Although he gives the impression of the bloke next door, Mark has used plenty of nous to manoeuvre his way into a team which was once wholly and totally behind 'The Kid'. Has become an excellent ambassador for V8s when mixed with other sporting contemporaries. Graham Brown (Bridgestone Australia) 'Mort' is a survivor on the scene dating back to his days with Brock but there is no doubting how influential his current role has become. As successful bidder for the V8 Supercar control tyre contract, Brown's boys come under a lot of pressure and, to date, it has been a much needed stimulus to the category. It may have taken a little while for former non-Bridgestone shod teams to get up to speed but the lack of complaints indicate just how good a job they must be doing. Ray Robins (TEGA Category Technical Manager) The V8 Supercar 'techno policemen' have done wonders to dispel rumours of traction control and deployment of other weird and wonderful devices. Just the right hard-working and trustworthy bloke for the job. Advisable not to play cards against Ray though, judging by poker faced response to probing questions! Tim Pemberton (Pemberton Publicity) The undisputed doyen of the motor sport PR industry. 'Plastic' spends his weekends dreaming up satirical pro-Holden questions at press conferences using the rapier and the broadsword - both methods draw blood! Gems to come from his fertile imagination include the old cardboard cut-out cars, Rory the Lion on the grid plus the paper mache Holden 'heads' which adorned Bathurst last year. Mark Larkham (Mitre 10 Racing/TEGA Board) Larko has slowly worked his way into prominence as much off the track as on it. His logic and input as a TEGA board member is invaluable as the members need some rational representation. An excellent ambassador for long time backer Mitre 10 which shows when he's invited to provide sensible input on the V8 Subrperstars TV show. Doesn't rant and rave but still can get his view across. Ross Stone (Stone Bros Racing) Ross and bruvver Jimmy are clever Kiwis to have built from the ground up arguably the best Ford team in the championship chase. Heavily into man-management and interpersonal skills, their mob would do anything for them, which speaks volumes for their commitment. Ross has come a long way in a remarkably short space of time from the days when he came under notice running Kevin Waldock and Andy Miedecke in Sierras so good that he was poached by DJR. Set to be a major player into the future if he tolerates the inevitable politics surrounding the sport.

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