Newsreader Sandra Sully, a rose between two ... respected drivers. Image: Chevron Library

What effect will the Nissans’ re-introduction next year have on the V8 Supercars landscape?

It’s not going to be like it was. Back then, you had a four-wheel-drive, turbo-charged car with electronics; far more advanced than anyone else. Let’s face it, with all due respect to anyone who was racing them, they were pretty fool-proof. But it’s different now. They have to run a V8 engine, a set horsepower, so when they come in it’s going to be very much on a level playing field with everyone else. It’s the right way to go. I think we have to do it because the world’s changing. I’d love it to stay Ford and Holden, personally, because I grew up in that era. But you have to look at the changing marketplace. For the survival of the category, I’m afraid you have to roll over and go, “Oh well, you still want the sport to be around in ten years, so the only way that’s going to happen is to widen the appeal.”

You’ve been teasing the younger drivers on Twitter for “smashing lattes” lately. That generation gap banter must be fun?

I think with the younger bunch of drivers coming into the category now, no doubt there’s a few latte-sippers and a few Versace-wearers ... The good thing about our sport is that there’s such a varied demographic; you’ve got fans aged between six and 60. You have to have the younger guys there; all the young girls and boys, that’s who they look up to – the younger latte-sipping crowd. But sometimes I feel our category forgets that there’s the over-40s who follow us, too.

They’re a big demographic of V8 Supercars – probably over 50 percent. So let’s not forget about catering for them, either.

What’s a good sledge you’ve dished out or received which has stuck with you?

I’m team-mates with a couple of the biggest sledgers in motorsport in James Courtney and Garth Tander. They’re a couple of mongrels who’d do whatever they can to get in your head. You name it, they’ll mess around. We went out to a ride day at Phillip Island last week and they got into my hire car before we drove back to the airport. I had two and a half hours of driving ahead of me and they’d put zip ties on the axle shafts and pulled all the wheel weights off and put them all on one wheel so the steering wheel was vibrating. Then they unplugged the radio so I couldn’t hide all the noises that were going on. Don’t worry, they do their utmost to piss me off. But I’ve got a good one for them this weekend. You can put it in, because it’s going to happen. There was a bit of waxing that went on in a waxing studio about a week ago, so I kept a couple of the used waxing strips with a bit of the remnants which is going to find its way inside their helmets just before race one at Eastern Creek. I’m sure they’ll love that. That’ll teach them to mess around with my hire car.

It must get pretty “hairy” in the heat of the battle?

Yeah, the intimidation, really, is on the track. You know the drivers, you know what they like and don’t like. There are a couple of drivers who are a little bit weak mentally and you harass them, just keep thumping their back bumper bar or just keep unsettling them and you know they’ll lose it. And then as soon as they lose it, that’s it, she’s all over. They’ll start driving erratically. You can rattle drivers pretty good, but you also have to know your competition as well. You do your homework beforehand and find out what their weaknesses are and then just keep playing on those in the race. It’s amazing how many have come unstuck over the years.

What’s the general vibe among V8 drivers re: the Homebush circuit?

Sydney predominantly hasn’t been a strong market for V8 Supercars, which is strange, because it’s had such a big heritage with Bathurst and Eastern Creek ... Oran Park for a lot of years. You’ve almost got to bring the race to the people, and I think that’s what Homebush achieved. The mindset is, “Well, they won’t come and see us, so let’s take the race to them. Let’s get it somewhere where it’s accessible and people can come out.” I reckon it’s worked really well and it’s definitely pushed the V8 Supercars brand a lot better in NSW, and in Sydney especially. It’s a shame it seems to be all coming to an end. I think it was a perfect venue; it didn’t disrupt traffic ... But anyway, that’s the NSW government, isn’t it? They seemed to think it wasn’t worth it, but I think they’ll miss it when it’s gone, that’s for sure.