THEY might just be Australia's greatest sporting export.
Fresh from signing a deal to race in Texas in 2013, V8 Supercars will today announce a landmark deal with SPEED TV which will involve the American broadcasting giant flying their commentary and production teams to Australia for the Bathurst 1000 and the Gold Coast 600.
In a move that will result in the two races being broadcast live into the homes of 84 million SPEED subscribers in America, V8 Supercars will host the broadcaster in a custom built pit-lane studio for the events.
"It is a massive deal for us," said acting V8 Supercars CEO Shane Howard. "It shows just where Bathurst sits in terms of world sport.
"For them to send a team over for it and broadcast it, along with the Gold Coast event, live into America, is recognition of the level this event and this sport has hit in the world market."
For the first time in the sport's history, the exported coverage will include American commentators and a team who will create race graphics and information specifically for the American market.
"I guess it is important to their audience that the speeds will be converted into miles and all the technical information like litres used a lap will be converted into gallons and terms they know and understand," Howard said.
"They will put there own spin on it and for them to view our sport with technical information they understand is a big coup.
"They already identify with our sport but this will just take it all to a new level.
"We know V8 Supercars is the best touring car racing in the world and this just helps to prove it."
V8 Supercars is now a legitimate international racing category with the FIA recently approving a license to hold six events approved and supported by the International governing body outside of Australia.
So far V8 Supercars has confirmed a race in Austin Texas at the Circuit of America's - a track being built for next year's American F1 race - in 2013 and is committed to racing in Abu Dhabi and New Zealand next year. Howard's team has also been in talks with several other international venues including India, Singapore and Qatar.
"Texas has been confirmed and we are also working on a number of other international events," Howard said. "A number of countries have expressed interest and we are working on that.
"Next year we are back in New Zealand and Abu Dhabi and we are working on a number of other events.
"We have room for six races under the FIA agreement and we hope to fill them with suitable races.
"It is a very exciting time for the sport."