The V8 Supercars’ return to the religious house of New Zealand. V8 racing had been an unqualified success this 12 months as well as the organisers have actually another shock for engine racing fans.
The 2014 occasion at Pukekohe Park Raceway will be going from its mid-April time to coincide with Anzac weekend, April 24-27.
New V8 Supercars’ CEO James Warburton has done a deal with the New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association for following year’s ITM 500 occasion, which will have an additional competition over the weekend.
Driven caught up with Warburton to have a talk about the modifications to the brand new Zealand round of the series.
Just what had been the reasoning re connecting the brand new Zealand V8 Supercars round with the RSA?
We are extremely excited about racing on the Anzac weekend for a quantity of reasons. It’s our means to provide help to the RSA and acknowledge an extremely significant time for both nations. The RSA is extremely supportive and actually searching forward to information technology.
Exactly how did you get about approaching the RSA?
Our occasions staff worked with Auckland Tourism, occasions and financial Development (Ateed), our occasion lovers, as well as the RSA to guarantee the legend of the Anzac is recognized and recalled.
Exactly what had been their initial response?
They had been incredibly receptive and excited. We will today work with the RSA, Ateed, Government and our major naming liberties companion ITM on making it an extremely unique weekend.
There have actually been a couple of modifications announced for following 12 months including the dumping of the, at times, unpopular 60/60-race structure. Why the introduction of brand new competition platforms so quickly?
The 60/60 structure had been a success in numerous methods but had its faults in other individuals. We desired to guarantee all races are contested for championship points, which had been one of the aspects the groups and motorists had asked for. We additionally desired to standardise platforms so that spectators and viewers understand exactly what they’re likely to be viewing at the SuperStreet, SuperSprint and PIRTEK Enduro Cup occasions.
(SuperSprint occasions are two 100km races on Saturdays with a solitary 200km function competition on the Sunday, with the exception of the Auckland competition, which will consist of a more 100km competition across the Anzac weekend.)
What kind of turnout are you anticipating for the Friday competition?
That will be determined in due program but being Anzac weekend it provides men and women the chance to come along on Friday, should there be a competition that day. A programme and occasion details for Auckland has however to be verified.
There had been a great turnout for the brand new Zealand occasion this 12 months. What kind of audience quantity enhancement would you be searching for in 2014?
By records information technology had been a tremendous success and of program we are constantly searching to build. Utilizing that as a gauge, we would like to believe information technology could be bettered and that by staging the occasion over a lengthy weekend as well as the success of the 12 months will encourage more men and women to come.
There had been a rumour at Sandown that the Kiwi time might alter, obviously information technology isn’t following 12 months, but has here been conversation around going to a November time?
We have actually locked in the calendar for 2014 and will look at 2015 following year. At this point the brand new Zealand time continues to be April.
You’ve had your legs under the table for a bit today – a great choice to go into motorsport, or more of a “bloody hell, just what have actually I done”?
Not at all, I’m truly enjoying information technology. The item is fantastic, the racing is exciting as well as the occasions are great. Information technology has been truly great to be in a position to secure down and secure all of our major occasions during the consolidation duration; today it’s time for innovation and development.
Brand new Zealand will be the fourth end on the 2014 V8 Supercars’ championship calendar following the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, Tasmania 400 and Winton 400 and will consist of a change towards twilight racing. A minimum of five Saturday twilight races are feasible in 2014 and V8 Supercars will announce timings of all races early in the brand new 12 months.