22/06/2015
Good news, time to update this site!
PREMIER RACING CALENDAR UNITES KIWI MOTORSPORT
New Zealand motor racing is in pole position for its best season in years after agreement was reached to unite the country’s racing series under one Premier Racing Calendar.
MotorSport New Zealand together with a newly-formed Series Organising Group consisting of the major North Island racing categories and the Historic Racing Club agreed a calendar that will include a combined V8 grid for NZV8, TLX and V8 SuperTourer schedule cars to be known as New Zealand Touring Cars, the spectacular Toyota Race Series and the New Zealand Grand Prix. The Ssangyong Summer Series will also run within the Premier Racing Calendar.
An historic meeting held in Auckland last week was chaired by Rally New Zealand Chairman Peter Johnston and included representation from MotorSport New Zealand, the Historic Racing Club and series coordinators from the Toyota Racing Series, the NZV8 and former V8SuperTourer groups, UDC V8 Utes, the Ssangyong Summer Series, Tradezone GTRNZ (including GT1 and GT2), ENZED Central Muscle Cars and the Toyota Finance 86 Championship.
A new group made up of the class coordinators was formed – the S.O.G. (Series Organising Group) – to work with MSNZ and deliver stability and top level motorsport to rekindle both public and corporate interest.
Nine top level circuit racing events will be on offer to Kiwi race fans, made up of eight race meetings in the Premier Racing Calendar and the Australian V8 Supercar round at Pukekohe.
Premier Racing Calendar
Event 1 - Taupo Motorsport Park October 17 and 18
Event 2* - Pukekohe Park Raceway (Supercar event) November 6 and 7
Event 3 - Hampton Downs Motorsport Park November 28 and 29
Event 4 - Mike Pero Motorsport Park Ruapuna January 16 and 17
Event 5 - Teretonga Park Raceway January 23 and 24
Event 6 - Hampton Downs Motorsport Park January 29 and 31
Event 7 - Taupo Motorsport Park February 6 and 7
Event 8** - Manfeild Autocourse (New Zealand GP) February 12 to 14
Event 9 - Pukekohe Park Raceway April 16 and 17
*Event not organised or promoted as part of the Premier Racing Calendar
**Event promoted by Manfeild
The Historic Racing Club will organise and promote all events, with the aim of giving each event the same ‘iconic’ status currently enjoyed by events like the NZ Grand Prix, the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing and the V8 Festival. The HRC will continue to run its other events, with an expanded Club Motorsport calendar in addition to the Premier Calendar and its regular Historic Motorsport programme.
Welcoming the outcomes of the meeting, Johnston explained: “This was an historic day for the sport with everyone together in a room working to build a better future for circuit motor racing in New Zealand. There was a great deal of goodwill and a lot of hard work had already been put in to bring the calendar together even before the meeting. We have some great categories racing at some great circuits and the job now is to turn them into the best events we can. There is some fine tuning to do and plenty more work, but we can now all move ahead together in the best interests of the sport. Exciting times definitely lie ahead.”
MotorSport New Zealand President Shayne Harris said: “MSNZ is encouraged by the co-operation displayed by the major race categories in an attempt to rejuvenate the top end of the Sport. MSNZ supports the formation of the Series Organisers Group and looks forward to working with that group and being part of what signals the start of a bright future for premier motorsport in New Zealand.”
Announcements of categories confirmed for each event will be made soon, but the Premier Race Calendar will include the following categories; the Toyota Racing Series, New Zealand Touring Cars, UDC V8 Utes, the Ssangyong Race Series, Tradezone GTRNZ (GT1/GT2/NZGT), ENZED Central Muscle Cars and the Toyota Finance 86 Championship, with Formula Ford, Formula First, Pre-65, Motul Honda Cup, NZ Sportscars, Superkarts, Pro 7 and OSCA all making likely appearances on the card.
Further announcements will be made very quickly about the make-up of each of the Premier Racing Calendar events, with details of the categories running.
ENDS
Additional Comments
“I’m absolutely stoked with the release of the new Premier Race Calendar for next season and with the quality of the classes that will be competing at these events. The merger between the two V8 groups is progressing well with both groups promising some exciting racing next season. There are still a few things still to iron out but the intent to bring both the TLX and ST cars closer together is there.” Ian Booth, Chairman NZV8 Touring Cars.
“The formation of a new Series Organising Group to represent the classes and the creation of a new race calendar (endorsed by Motorsport NZ) is a major step forward for the motorsport community. This mandate will provide a positive and stable future for drivers and teams along with sponsors and commercial partners going forward.” Paul Isaac, Managing Director, UDC V8 Ute Racing Series.
"TradeZone GTRNZ is delighted to be part of the Premier Racing Series" said. "Our club brings a simple philosophy to the NZ motorsport scene - anything goes - and that means spectators can see some of the fastest and most exciting cars out there racing. Our grids mean we cover the whole range of cars from the exotic Crawfords, ex-V8 Supercars and TransAms to cars within reach of the ordinary motorsport enthusiast in our slower grid NZGT.” Keith Finnerty, TradeZone GTRNZ Club President.
“The understeer of life, i.e. ‘If you do not change direction then you end up where you are headed.’ The coming together of all interested parties into the Series Organising Group is a magnificent change of direction, by all concerned for the universal benefit of motor sport and a concept that we, as ENZED Central Muscle Cars, are both honoured and privileged to be part of. What a great opportunity we now all have to progress and succeed as one. Dr John Elliott – president of ENZED Central Muscle Cars.
