Weekend Motorsports Preview: So Long V8s in F1

It is a very light weekend for racing this time. Obviously, the biggest race of the weekend is the finale for the Formula One season with the Grand Prix of Brazil, but there is also a race from the International V8 Supercar Series.

In other races, the Super GT series in Japan has finished its points-paying season but its holding a series of exhibition races at Fuji International Speedway called the Fuji Sprint Cup. It will likely not be broadcast many places, but Super GT is good about posting race highlights to YouTube.

Formula 1

Formula 1 is coming to a finish this weekend with the Grand Prix of Brazil at Interlagos in São Paulo on Sunday, November 24. The race will cover 71 laps, of the 2.676-mile (4.309km), 15-corner racetrack.

Qualifying begins at 2:00pm local time on Saturday, November 23, and the race is at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso are already guaranteed first and second place respectively in the World Drivers’ Championship. But there is a two-way race for third between Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber. They are separated in the standings by six points. If Kimi Raikkonen were still racing this season, he would have been challenging for third as well, but he dropped out of the final two races to have back surgery.

In the constructors’ championship, Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
1049 photos
3 videos
has already won the championship, but there is still a three-way fight for second among MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
9852 photos
33 videos
, FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
and LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
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7 videos
. Thirty-three points separate the three teams in the standings.

Also, remember that this is the final chance to see V8s in Formula 1 for at least the next several years. Next year, Formula 1 will switch to turbocharged hybrid V6 engines.

Australian V8 Supercars

The Australian V8 Supercars Series has its penultimate race weekend at Philip Island. It will hold three races on Saturday and Sunday at the 2.762-mile (4.445km), 12-corner circuit.

The Saturday race at 3:45pm local time will have 28 laps; the first Sunday race at 1:45pm will have 23 laps, and the final Sunday race at 4:25pm will also have 23 laps.

The V8 Supercar Drivers’ Championship is tight. Craig Lowndes leads with 2,549 points, and Jamie Whincup has 2,543 points.