Holden and Ford V8 machinery set to find home on V8 SuperTourer programme

Older V8 racing cars from Holden and Ford – set to be entirely phased out of top line motorsport within two seasons – could find a new home alongside the exciting new V8 SuperTourer series in a new championship called the V8 Challenge Cup.

The V8 warhorses have been the mainstay of top flight tin top racing in New Zealand for over a decade, but with the recent announcement by Motorsport New Zealand that older type V8 cars will not be eligible for the New Zealand V8 series from the 2013-2014 season, a significant number of Ford and Holden V8 machines are in danger of being left on the sidelines or consigned to lower division ‘open’ classes or events.

“It’s just crazy that these cars could be left on the sidelines when they can provide such great racing for spectators as well as a platform for a young V8 star of the future to shine,” said V8 SuperTourer CEO Paul Radisich. “The V8 Challenge Cup is designed solely for those vehicles and we think it could be a huge hit.”

The current genre of V8 machines have been racing in New Zealand for some ten seasons with only occasional and minor development and upgrading and there are a significant number of cars parked up, ready to go but not currently eligible for New Zealand V8 racing. “Clearly though, we have to offer the right series at the right price to get them out on track and that’s what we believe we have created,” added Radisich.

The venues on the V8 Challenge Cup calendar (which mirrors that of the North Island rounds of the V8 SuperTourer series) will challenge the drivers and the cars – Hampton Downs for example has not been utilised by the New Zealand V8s since it was opened.

“There will be significant demand just to drive one of these older V8 cars at Hampton Downs. It’s something that any self respecting V8 driver would love to tackle and they will have the opportunity on February 17/18/19.”

For the best of the best in the older cars, there will be a chance to sample the state-of-the-art SuperTourer chassis. At each round, a scholarship competitor (not necessarily the round winner) will be selected to drive the V8SuperTourer prototype race car. The test run will be televised, adding extra incentive for the scholarship contender to perform well and possibly be selected for an end-of-season two-day test driving the V8ST prototype car coached by none other than Bathurst Lap of the Gods legend Greg Murphy.

Advanced demand for tickets suggests there will be significant crowd numbers at the inaugural season’s V8 SuperTourer events too, with crowds, organisers believe, that will be more in keeping with the golden days of New Zealand motor racing rather than the low numbers of recent seasons. That too, could make the V8 Challenge Cup a winning formula.

The inaugural V8Challenge Cup is designed for V8 touring cars that generally comply to superseded versions of Schedule TL requirements (that is, up to and including the 2010/11 vehicles as published by MSNZ. Former V8 touring car-spec cars that may have been re-engined on a performance-equalisation basis will also be considered for a “technical passport” to be issued by V8 SuperTourers, which is a pre-requisite to entry into the Cup races.

For further information visit www.v8supertourers.co.nz or email media@v8supertourers.co.nz to submit an expression of interest and receive a copy of the racing calendar and sporting regulations.