V8 Supercars will introduce Formula One-style pre-race press conferences in an attempt to beef up its mainstream media coverage.

At Ipswich’s Queensland Raceway this Friday, a three-man panel will face the media. The press conferences will be held at each V8 event and will feature topical drivers, team members, category officials and special guests, providing the media with more information and introducing new personalities to the sport.

V8 Supercars would not reveal who would face the media for the inaugural ‘Friday Grill’ at Queensland Raceway, but it is believed that two of them are non-driving international guests linked to the sport.

V8 Supercar’s media manager Cole Hitchcock says that topical people will be invited to answer questions each Friday.

“It’s a way of introducing new profiles to the sport, thus deepening the talent pool available to the media,” Hitchcock told Speedcafe.com.

“It’s also a way for issues of the day to be raised in an open forum. It will be various people from in and around the sport. There’s two components to them – adding the variety for the media coverage, and also having them at a time that suits weekend deadlines.

“As an example, a team manager might have a drama with the stewards from the previous races, so we might grab him and maybe that would be a good subject.

“We are going to try and chose people who are current and optical in the environment at that time.”

The Friday press conferences are another new addition to the way the V8 ‘pressers’ are held. At Townsville, a team representative has been invited to join the top three drivers.

“Again, we wanted to introduce new profiles and add to the content and variety available to the media,” Hitchcock said.

After a five-week break, the V8 Supercars return to the race track this weekend for the Coates Hire 300 at Queensland Raceway.