Speedshow welcomes new V8SuperTourers

The stars and cars of New Zealand’s newest and most exciting motor racing series, the V8SuperTourers, will be a major attraction at this year’s CRC Speedshow.

The weekend of 23 and 24 July, at CRC Speedshow, marks the first major public appearance of most of the drivers and teams confirmed for the V8SuperTourers series, dubbed the ‘V8 series of champions’, which gets underway in February 2012.

Series spokesman John McIntyre says that the majority of the drivers confirmed for the inaugural season of V8SuperTourer racing will be at CRC Speedshow at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.

“Over coming weeks, we’ll announce more teams and drivers confirmed to start in our very first V8SuperTourer race on 17 February 2012 at Hampton Downs,” says the three-time NZ V8 champion who has already confirmed that his team, John McIntyre Racing, will run two current model FG Ford Falcons in the series.

“CRC Speedshow provides a fantastic opportunity for V8 race fans to find out more about our stunning V8SuperTourer race cars and meet the drivers. We’re very excited about being at CRC Speedshow in July – I have always loved bringing John McIntyre Racing to this stunning event because it’s a wonderful way to meet the fans who support us from year to year.”

The first prototype V8SuperTourer race car will also be on show for fans to see along with footage of the successful test days completed by McIntyre, Andy Booth and other drivers. The V8SuperTourer is designed and built by Paul Ceprnich, of Pace Innovations in Australia and its monocoque chassis is built to accommodate both the current VE Commodore and FG Falcon bodies as well as other similar size four door cars. The V8SuperTourer is powered by a strictly-controlled ‘one make’, all-alloy, fuel injected and dry sumped, seven-litre V8 ST engine (derived from the Le Mans C6R Corvette programme). The V8 engine is hand-built in America, and delivers some 550 hp at 6,800 rpm.

McIntyre adds: “Our aim is to build an affordable new generation, future-proofed V8 touring car, similar in concept to a current Australian V8 Supercar but at less than half the cost. The V8SuperTourer is designed to have performance similar to that of a current Australian V8 Supercar, capable of both sprint and long distance, enduro style racing.

“From our test day in May, I can tell you I’ve never driven such an exciting and dynamic V8 race car before. It’s everything we hoped for and much more.”

CRC Speedshow organiser Keith Sharp is also excited to see the new V8SuperTourer series and car profiled at this year’s show.

“Kiwis love their V8s, so to have such an exciting new concept in V8 touring car racing profiled at CRC Speedshow is just brilliant. It’s going to be fantastic to meet most of the V8SuperTourer teams and drivers – we can’t wait to find out more about the series and the drivers!” says Sharp.

CRC Speedshow, New Zealand’s annual motorsport and automotive extravaganza, takes place at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds from 23 to 24 July. Alongside the V8SuperTourers, race fans can meet Kiwi V8 Supercar star Shane van Gisbergen, see current model Formula 1 cars and much more.

News, competitions and show information is updated on the show’s Facebook page, Twitter feeds and website, www.speedshow.co.nz, on a regular basis.