How big are V8 Supercars in Australia? The simple answer, HUGE. We have now completed some of the biggest races in the calendar and the response has been brilliant. At Adelaide, we had yet another massive crowd and new attendance record. Darwin was its usual, amazing self, huge crowds and the whole town getting behind the event.

Canberra was another success. Yes, the crowd was a little down on last year, but the weather wasn't the best and the improvements made to the circuit will no doubt bring the numbers up next year. Perth yet again filled Barbagallo Raceway up to the rafters. Heck, they even got a half decent crowd at Eastern Creek earlier in the year - you know the series is in good shape when that happens!

Tony Cochrane and AVESCO may have their knockers in some departments, but you cannot argue with the facts. The facts are that crowds are getting bigger, the television ratings are getting better and our telecasts now get beamed out across the globe to some massive number like 425 million homes. Now they must have done something right to be able to have those figures in their armory when someone complains that V8 Supercars are not getting any bigger and that there isn't enough excitement to get the crowds.

Now I am not sitting here blowing smoke up the bums of AVESCO and Mr Cochrane, because I believe there is much more to be done to get even more punters through the gate, but really, we can't complain too much. Channel 10 has been a large part of the success story. Five years ago would you have thought that there would be a stand alone V8 Superstars style program on prime time TV? I wouldn't.

RPM and the actual race telecasts are second to none. I was watching a NASCAR race from Charlotte on Pay-TV the other day and the broadcast of the American TV wasn't a patch on the local gig we have here. And after all, now we can wake up late on a spare Sunday, turn on the box and pretty much know that there will be a full on afternoon of motorsport to watch, while we are meant to be doing something much more important!

Really, we are pretty spoilt nowadays. We have great racing, great cars to do the racing with and most of all we have great fans, and plenty of them. Watching the V8 Superstars program just before Canberra, Glenn Seton was saying how proud he was to be part of V8 Supercars at the moment. I couldn't agree more. It may sound all soft and gooey but in reality, the category is getting bigger and bigger and that is very healthy for motorsport in the country and this region of the world.

See you at the track.
GT