A new home for V8 Supercars in New Zealand
August 12th 2007 04:34
It’s been on the cards for a while now with 2007 being the final time V8 Supercars will grace Pukekohe Park Raceway with their presence. Early in 2006, a two year extension was granted to Pukekohe to hold the New Zealand round of the V8 Supercar series; this has now expired, meaning Hamilton will take over starting in the 2008 season.
Hamilton has the necessary infrastructure needed to host a major sporting event of this size including transport links, location to population base and accommodation choices for visitors. V8 Supercars Australia has also expressed a preference for a street race in New Zealand; something that Hamilton can offer.
Dean Calvert, promoter for the series, is impressed with the vision and capabilities of the Hamilton City Council. “They’ve done a great job in securing the event for the city” he said, “and we are sure Hamilton’s involvement will take V8 Supercars to a new level in New Zealand.’’
The four kilometer street course borders the CBD, running predominantly through the Frankton business district, and offers the opportunity for large public admissions and corporate hospitality, while introducing a fantastic sporting event for the city itself.
A new development this weekend has finally seen the dates announced for the 2008 round at New Zealand, with the race to be known as the Hamilton 400 and held on 18th to 20th April. This will be the first of seven years for the V8 Supercars on Hamilton’s street circuit.
The new event also boasts a new trophy, the Mark Porter Memorial trophy, to commemorate the local driver who tragically died during last year’s Bathurst 1000 weekend.
Tony Cochrane, Chairman of V8 Supercars Australia, said the organisation was excited to be able to announce the date of next year’s event and looked forward to bringing the V8s to Hamilton in 2008.
“This is going to be one of the best events on our calendar. With tickets soon to be on sale I urge all New Zealanders to make sure they are part of this historic first race on a great journey for Kiwi motorsport,” Mr Cochrane said.
“Hamilton has the hallmarks of becoming the New Zealand equivalent of the biggest and best street race on our Australian calendar – the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
“What a wonderful achievement for New Zealand and Hamilton to be able to stage what will be the biggest single sporting event in the country by far.”
Tickets will be on sale to the general public from Monday 27th August via Ticketek outlets and are limited to 55,000 in the first year, including nearly 20,000 grandstand seats.
Dean Calvert was also excited that a firm date had finally been set, “It signals the start to what we believe will be an iconic event in New Zealand,” he said. “We are also honoured that the Porter family have agreed that the drivers can compete for the Mark Porter Memorial Trophy, to be held in perpetuity for this event. Mark Porter was a well known driver in V8 Supercars and the Porter family has been synonymous with motorsport in this country and especially here in their home in Hamilton.
“We feel this is an appropriate way to celebrate and honour that contribution and we are indebted to their support.
“The nature of a street circuit is much different,” Calvert went on. “Our aim is to provide an overall experience for the whole family.
“While there will be excellent opportunity for general admission, the best viewing will be from the seven major grandstands which all have good views to the 12 big screens we will have around the circuit.”
The ticketed area is at the top of the circuit (start/finish line and pit lane) running from the Waikato Stadium through to Seddon Park, which will be the venue for two nights of free concerts for ticketholders. The remainder of the 3.4km circuit takes in the sights of the Frankton business district and will not offer direct viewing of the track aside from the grandstands at the bottom of the circuit.
“We’ve reached the start line for the Hamilton 400,” Mr Calvert finished. “It’s going to be a long hard race ahead but this is a red letter day for us, for Hamilton, for the V8 Supercar Championship and for motorsport in this country.”
So, what did the drivers think of this change?
Russell Ingall, #9 Stone Brothers Racing Falcon
“Pukekohe is a good little circuit but looking forward, going to Hamilton for a new street race will be really exciting. As a spectacle, street races are the way of the sport.”
Jason Bargwanna, #10 WPS Racing Falcon
“In some ways it is disappointing that we are not returning to Pukekohe because it’s a good little track … but at the same time we have a great event to look forward to in Hamilton. That event has a lot of potential and could grow into one of the big events of the season. Unfortunately our series has just outgrown Pukekohe Park.”
Greg Murphy, #51 Tasman Motorsport Commodore
"It's great for the Kiwis in the V8 Supercar championship.Going to Hamilton for seven years on a street race circuit is going to be phenomenal.
“It's going to put Hamilton on the map for car racing for a very, very long time. A street circuit takes the race to the people. It's going to be amazing. I can't wait."
Pukekohe facts:
In 2006, Mark Skaife equaled Peter Brock's record of 37 Australian touring car championship round wins at this track.
Pukekohe is one of only five of the 14 V8 Supercar venues where Craig Lowndes hasn't won a round. In fact, the podium has eluded him on every one of his visits to this track and he has only finished in the top ten once.
Pukekohe in 2007 marked the 100th round for Cameron McConville of Supercheap Auto Racing.
The only Ford driver to have won a race at Pukekohe was Marcos Ambrose back in 2004.
Gold Coast-based brothers Ross and Jimmy Stone, of Stone Brothers Racing, got their first taste of motorsport at Pukekohe in 1962 when Ross was 9 and Jimmy 15, however an outright V8 Supercar victory at the track has remained beyond the reach of Stone Brothers Racing.
"It's the one thing Jimmy and I want more than anything else," Ross Stone said. "Pukekohe is a special place and has great atmosphere."
Photo of Barg's car by Martin Pot, used with permission. http://martybugs.net/
Hamilton has the necessary infrastructure needed to host a major sporting event of this size including transport links, location to population base and accommodation choices for visitors. V8 Supercars Australia has also expressed a preference for a street race in New Zealand; something that Hamilton can offer.
Dean Calvert, promoter for the series, is impressed with the vision and capabilities of the Hamilton City Council. “They’ve done a great job in securing the event for the city” he said, “and we are sure Hamilton’s involvement will take V8 Supercars to a new level in New Zealand.’’
The four kilometer street course borders the CBD, running predominantly through the Frankton business district, and offers the opportunity for large public admissions and corporate hospitality, while introducing a fantastic sporting event for the city itself.
A new development this weekend has finally seen the dates announced for the 2008 round at New Zealand, with the race to be known as the Hamilton 400 and held on 18th to 20th April. This will be the first of seven years for the V8 Supercars on Hamilton’s street circuit.
Mark Porter
Tony Cochrane, Chairman of V8 Supercars Australia, said the organisation was excited to be able to announce the date of next year’s event and looked forward to bringing the V8s to Hamilton in 2008.
“This is going to be one of the best events on our calendar. With tickets soon to be on sale I urge all New Zealanders to make sure they are part of this historic first race on a great journey for Kiwi motorsport,” Mr Cochrane said.
“Hamilton has the hallmarks of becoming the New Zealand equivalent of the biggest and best street race on our Australian calendar – the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
“What a wonderful achievement for New Zealand and Hamilton to be able to stage what will be the biggest single sporting event in the country by far.”
Tickets will be on sale to the general public from Monday 27th August via Ticketek outlets and are limited to 55,000 in the first year, including nearly 20,000 grandstand seats.
Dean Calvert was also excited that a firm date had finally been set, “It signals the start to what we believe will be an iconic event in New Zealand,” he said. “We are also honoured that the Porter family have agreed that the drivers can compete for the Mark Porter Memorial Trophy, to be held in perpetuity for this event. Mark Porter was a well known driver in V8 Supercars and the Porter family has been synonymous with motorsport in this country and especially here in their home in Hamilton.
“We feel this is an appropriate way to celebrate and honour that contribution and we are indebted to their support.
“The nature of a street circuit is much different,” Calvert went on. “Our aim is to provide an overall experience for the whole family.
“While there will be excellent opportunity for general admission, the best viewing will be from the seven major grandstands which all have good views to the 12 big screens we will have around the circuit.”
The ticketed area is at the top of the circuit (start/finish line and pit lane) running from the Waikato Stadium through to Seddon Park, which will be the venue for two nights of free concerts for ticketholders. The remainder of the 3.4km circuit takes in the sights of the Frankton business district and will not offer direct viewing of the track aside from the grandstands at the bottom of the circuit.
“We’ve reached the start line for the Hamilton 400,” Mr Calvert finished. “It’s going to be a long hard race ahead but this is a red letter day for us, for Hamilton, for the V8 Supercar Championship and for motorsport in this country.”
So, what did the drivers think of this change?
Russell Ingall, #9 Stone Brothers Racing Falcon
“Pukekohe is a good little circuit but looking forward, going to Hamilton for a new street race will be really exciting. As a spectacle, street races are the way of the sport.”
Jason Bargwanna, #10 WPS Racing Falcon
“In some ways it is disappointing that we are not returning to Pukekohe because it’s a good little track … but at the same time we have a great event to look forward to in Hamilton. That event has a lot of potential and could grow into one of the big events of the season. Unfortunately our series has just outgrown Pukekohe Park.”
Jason Bargwanna
Greg Murphy, #51 Tasman Motorsport Commodore
"It's great for the Kiwis in the V8 Supercar championship.Going to Hamilton for seven years on a street race circuit is going to be phenomenal.
“It's going to put Hamilton on the map for car racing for a very, very long time. A street circuit takes the race to the people. It's going to be amazing. I can't wait."
Pukekohe facts:
Mark Skaife
In 2006, Mark Skaife equaled Peter Brock's record of 37 Australian touring car championship round wins at this track.
Pukekohe is one of only five of the 14 V8 Supercar venues where Craig Lowndes hasn't won a round. In fact, the podium has eluded him on every one of his visits to this track and he has only finished in the top ten once.
Pukekohe in 2007 marked the 100th round for Cameron McConville of Supercheap Auto Racing.
The only Ford driver to have won a race at Pukekohe was Marcos Ambrose back in 2004.
Gold Coast-based brothers Ross and Jimmy Stone, of Stone Brothers Racing, got their first taste of motorsport at Pukekohe in 1962 when Ross was 9 and Jimmy 15, however an outright V8 Supercar victory at the track has remained beyond the reach of Stone Brothers Racing.
"It's the one thing Jimmy and I want more than anything else," Ross Stone said. "Pukekohe is a special place and has great atmosphere."
Photo of Barg's car by Martin Pot, used with permission. http://martybugs.net/
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Oh my God! I've been there, have friends there...it's a peaceful little place but I guess it won't be in April next year...
Hope you're wll my Cara...
Dusk
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
It'll be pumping in April, at least for a short time. Firing on all cylinders.
Very well, busy packing. Hope you had a great weekend.
Big hugs
Cara.xxxx