For years they have been considered a formidable undercard at Albert Park, but soon the V8 Supercars' annual pilgrimage to the Australian Grand Prix could count for much more.
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Plans are afoot to turn the exhibition-style V8 races into a formal championship round from next year.
V8 Supercars boss James Warburton believes the move would boost the appeal of the annual grand prix fixture.
''There is no question we want to compete for championship points at this incredible weekend in Melbourne. It certainly would be great for the event, the fans, our teams, Melbourne and all concerned,'' Warburton said.
''We have a strong will to make it happen, as does Andrew Westacott and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.''
The partial return of V8 Supercars to Channel Ten paves the way for the local racing category to finally gain championship status at Albert Park.
The V8s' appearances during the grand prix are not included in the national championship because Channel Seven has exclusive free-to-air TV rights to the series until the end of the year. But Ten, the official formula one broadcaster in Australia, has signed a six-year television deal from next year in conjunction with Fox Sports.
In the past, stringent F1 rules have prohibited V8 Supercars from using the main pit lane, precluding the pit stops that are required at championship events. However, that changed when the V8s got their own garage complex in 2011.
Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott said the hurdle blocking the V8s' aspirations centred on F1 authorities and ensuring their strict scheduling requirements were not impeded. Equally, the V8 championship rules require specific timings and formats for practice and qualifying sessions, and races.
''We know that Australian Grand Prix patrons love V8 Supercars and if we're able to make the event a championship round, then it will take the excitement and interest around category to the next level,'' Westacott said.
''We want to work towards bringing it to fruition but clearly we've got to work out a way of fitting the V8s into the F1's very rigid format and schedule.
''It does need a lot of work because F1 times are linked to international broadcast, medical times and things like that, but we want to work towards a resolution.''
Even in the V8s' exhibition guise, Supercars veteran Garry Rogers is adamant the local category is as much of a drawcard to Albert Park as formula one itself.
''I think there's more V8 punters here now than F1 punters,'' the team principal of Garry Rogers Motorsport said.
Kiwi gun Shane van Gisbergen extended his winning streak to three races during Saturday's 30-minute V8 Supercars sprint fixture.
The Tekno Autosports driver was hardly challenged during the race, retaining the lead from pole position to finish ahead of fellow Holden drivers Fabian Coulthard and Craig Lowndes. Scott McLaughlin, Garth Tander, Michael Caruso, Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, David Reynolds and Todd Kelly rounded out the top 10.
The fourth and final V8 Supercars race at Albert Park will start at 1.15pm on Sunday.
