V8 Supercars offer $2.6m grand slam prize

V8 Supercars drivers such as Kiwis Greg Murphy and Shane Van Gisbergen have been handed a NZ$2.6 million incentive to pull out all the stops in the four classic races of the year.

That is the sum any of the top Supercar stars can earn if they win the opening round of the domestic campaign in Adelaide this weekend, follow up at Bathurst in October, and then take the chequered flag in the Gold Coast Supercarnivale event at Surfers Paradise before saluting in the final event of the season, the Sydney 500, at the Homebush Olympic precinct.

It's a big ask, says V8 Supremo Tony Cochrane, but one that is do-able.

"It's the highest prize ever offered in motorsport in Australia and one of the highest prizes ever offered in any sport. We are delighted to be putting this up ... it will become an annual event," Cochrane said as he announced the huge cash bonus in the pit lane at Adelaide.

"It's a very tough call. They are four very difficult, very different events. They require a huge amount of fitness, a massive amount of concentration and a huge element of luck and you have to have everything going right for you in the car as well, so it's a tough call, hence the reason why its A$2 million on the end of it. But we wouldn't be putting it up if we didn't think it could go off and quite frankly I want it to go off, what a great headline that would bring."

The money is being put up by the four events and V8 Supercars Australia.

"I think bonusing the drivers and the teams is a really good thing. We have got the strong financial position that we can, so why not."

Cochrane played down suggestions that the huge financial incentive might lead drivers to take more ruthless action on the track if they were in with a winning chance.

"I think the competition is ruthless day in and day out. When these guys put their helmets on they forget everything in life except winning," he said.

Jamie Whincup, the defending V8 champion, came close in 2008, winning at Adelaide, Bathurst and the Gold Coast. He is looking forward to this year's challenge.

"Its clearly a massive massive incentive for us to win the big four. It's a lot of money, but the competition is extremely tough ... it will be massively tough for one driver to win all four. If I had the $2 million I think I would blow it as quick as I possibly can and enjoy it," he said.

"Drivers don't necessarily need another incentive. But I tell you, if someone has won the three and they are going into Sydney with that incentive, well it's going to play on your mind .... it's going to be absolutely all in. When you are out on the track money doesn't come into it at all. But it's a massive incentive."

Last year's championship runner up, Will Davison said: "I reckon I can gain a few tenths out of it for sure .... if it came down to Homebush, for yourself or someone who was near to it, it would change the stakes that's for sure."

James Courtney agreed that the bonus would certainly concentrate minds: "It will definitely give us a bit of courage on that last corner on that last lap if you are in second," he joked.

Former title winners Garth Tander added: " I would be very happy to take $2 million of Tony' money...and I probably need it a bit more than these other blokes who keep trying to retire me so I would probably put it in the Super Fund or something."

- © Fairfax NZ News