Pre-Season NZV8 Series Meetings

This week there is a series of pre-seasons meetings where drivers, teams, shareholders and interested parties can discuss the face and format of the upcoming NZV8s Gold Star Championships.

The meetings are as follows:

AUCKLAND
5.30pm Wednesday 11th July
Auckland Car Club Rooms; 44 Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill, Auckland

HAMILTON
5.30pm Thursday 12^th July
Map & Associates, 14 Knox St, Hamilton

The purpose of the meetings is to update everyone with the details for the coming season including but not limited to:

• Championship series & calendar
• Race distances & formats
• Technical regulations
• Pit set ups
• Support categories
• Promotional support
• Review of Motor Sport Schedule CH

This will be an open forum for constructive feedback and discussion, and we welcome everybody who is interested in attending to get the widest possible range of views and opinions in preparation for an exciting season for our championship!

For any more information contact Brian Lawrence on 0275 960 688 or on brianlawrence1@xtra.co.nz

Where do the current NZV8 cars fit in?

With all the hype surrounding the builds of the ‘New Generation’ NZV8 cars, many are asking where the current model Commodore and BA Falcons will fit into the picture in the future.

There is still a valuable place for this machinery in our NZV8 championship structure, with all existing cars eligible for a separate New Zealand Gold Star Championship and Motorsport New Zealand title for the at least the next two seasons.

The exact grid format of the NZV8s Championship is yet to be determined however it is expected that the current model cars will race on the same grid as the ‘New Generation’ cars, bolstering grid numbers, colour and excitement for race fans at each of our six permanent circuits.

There are no technical regulation changes expected for the current model NZV8s at this point, and the championship will run ‘as is’ this season.

There are many competitive packages both for sale and lease from teams and private owners around New Zealand, no matter if your heart lies with Holden or Ford. Prospective interest can be directed to Brian Lawrence, who can be contacted directly on 0275 960 688 or on brianlawrence1@xtra.co.nz

Revised NZV8s Calendar confirmed

After careful consideration, a revised calendar for the 2012/13 NZV8s Gold Star Championship has been penned. The new calendar includes the popular Ruapuna event, treating Christchurch race fans to the New Generation NZV8 cars along with the rest of the country.

The calendar is as follows:

Ruapuna – 8-9 December
Teretonga – 12-13 January
Timaru – 19-20 January
Manfeild – 9-10 February
Taupo – 9-10 March
Pukekohe – April TBA

The decision to open the championship at Ruapuna sees the prospective Pukekohe date pushed back to April 2013, pending an announcement of where and when the V8 Supercars will visit New Zealand for next year’s championship.

‘The Good Oil’ Media Review

Welcome to The Good Oil, the media review of the 2011/12 Premier Race Championship Series.

This report encompasses all classes in the championship – BNT V8s, Toyota Racing Series, Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, UDC V8 UTES, Formula Ford and Sports and Production GT.

All statistics are broken down either by round or by dates surrounding and relevant to each round, from Pukekohe in November 2011 through to Hamilton in April 2012.

Download the PDF below to check it out:

The Good Oil PDF

Introducing Motorsport Promotions Ltd

The attached PDF is an introductory outline to the new Motorsport Promotions Ltd company that will market & promote the NZV8s and Premier Race Championships’ support classes for the 2012-13 season.

Click the link below to view the PDF document:

Motorsport Promotions: An Introduction

2012-13 Premier Race Championships Provisional Calendar

After the weekend’s annual Motorsport New Zealand AGM, a provisional calendar has been drafted for the upcoming Premier Race Championships and associated support categories.

This is of course subject to change, but will look a little something like this:

8-9 December   Taupo 

12-13 January   Invercargill

19-20 January   Timaru 

26-27 January   Taupo

2-3 February   Hampton Downs

9-10 February   Manfeild (Manawatu)

9-10 March   Pukekohe

TBA April   TBA (Australian V8 Supercars)

This is quite a change from recent years, with the championship now kicking off in Taupo at a slightly later December date.

The Toyota Racing Series will compete for five weekends in a row, much like 2012, from Invercargill through to Manfeild for the New Zealand Grand Prix.

The NZV8s’ exact calendar, and that of the remaining support classes, will included a combination of the above, however a final calendar is still to be decided and released shortly.

Ruapuna is still being considered in addition to, or instead of, one of the events stated above.

Nick’s next with a new Holden

Nick Ross is one of the NZV8s’ all time stalwarts, and along with his Concept Motorsport team are proud and excited at the prospects of the new NZV8s series next summer.

To prepare for the challenge, they’ve purchased a chassis which is currently on the ‘production line’ at Mitchell Race Xtreme, due to be completed in the next month and badged accordingly with his favoured Holden marque.

The Concept Motorsport team will spend the winter finishing off the car and beginning a testing programme in preparation for the new season, which i due to begin at the start of December. The calendar for the championship is expected to be announced next week after the Motorsport New Zealand AGM in Auckland.

“We are all excited with the new cars and series, and cant wait to get the new 007 on the track,” said Nick.

Young gun ready to step up

Bronson Porter is one of many young drivers eyeing up a seat in one of the New Generation NZV8s next season, after his first foray into the championship in a Holden Commodore in 2011/12.

We chatted to Bronson about his plans, and he was quick to point out that “yes, we are trying really hard to have a new NZV8 ready for next year. We have a couple of sponsors interested, but just small one at the moment. Every bit helps.”

And every bit will go towards making his plans a reality. Running on a tight budget, Bronson’s team are working day and night to give him a chance at proving his mettle in the main game.

“If we get the budget to run a new car it will more than likely be running the new motor and box as the car we have, rather than the new driveline package,” Porter said.

“I feel that with a new car I will be able to compete at the front of the field. We have the team and we will be building the car ourselves, while I will continue to drive in Super 6 to stay sharp.”

Having run with Holden in the past, we would bet that Bronson will be leaning in the favour of the infamous roaring lion for his choice of model, continuing the strong history the marque has in the NZV8 series.

Toyota will lead the way

The announcement yesterday of Toyota joining the NZV8s Gold Star Championship with their Camry model has caused quite a stir within the motorsport community.

Most importantly, they have made the first move in the chess game and opened to door for new manufacturers to lead by the example of a brand that has already done so much for New Zealand motorsport, most recently with the hugely successful Toyota Racing Series.

The winter months may be setting in, but the work has only just behind here at NZV8 HQ. There’s plenty more where this came from, so stay tuned!

Full steam ahead at Mitchell Race Xtreme

The task of building upwards of 20 New Generation NZV8 chassis is no easy task; even less so when demand is increasing from prospective teams & drivers by the day.

Charged with the task of making it happen are the team at Mitchell Race Xtreme (MRX) in Hamilton, and as proven by the prototype vehicle that’s made it’s way around New Zealand this past summer, they’re the right men for the job.

MRX are the sole chassis and suspension supplier for the new NZV8s, with all elements to each chassis build becoming ‘control’ parts that add commonality and equality throughout the field.

“The build time for the new NZV8 chassis package is three weeks,” according to Nick Mitchell of MRX.

With five chassis all in various stages of completion already, and many more pending, there will be many a late night at MRX over the winter months.

With mooted entries from Holden, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan and a number of other marques, the ‘Car of Tomorrow’-style control chassis will provide an added element of parity to the exciting new era of V8 racing in New Zealand.