Pukekohe gets the nod to host 2001 NZ V8 visit
9/4/2000 13:54 (Jason Whittaker) - Auckland's Pukekohe Raceway will host a round of the Shell Championship Series next year, after pipping two other rival bids to host the V8's 2001 NZ visit.
AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane, track-side for this weekend's Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, made the announcement at the event yesterday.
"Over the past three years (the) V8 Supercars have experienced explosive growth both locally and internationally, and our decision to take the Shell Series to New Zealand has been driven by that demand," Mr Cochrane said.
"New Zealand opens up a whole new market for us, and is only one of a
number of exciting opportunities under consideration."
Pukekohe Raceway, a fast and flowing permanent venue three-quarters of an hour south of Auckland, received the nod to host the race over rival bids from the Event Management Specialists (EMS) for a race on the streets of Auckland, and a bid for a race at Auckland's Whenuapai Airport involving high-profile NZ motorsport man Frank Radisich.
Powerful sports marketing agent, the International Management Group (IMG), was behind the bid, and will continue to manage and promote the event. IMG and AVESCO will enter into a multi-year deal with New Zealand Motorsport to stage the event, soon.
The top 32 Holden and Ford Supercars will be allowed to make the journey to the land of the long white cloud, the first time a Shell Series event has been held offshore.
Shell Australia's Sponsorship Manager, Ross Brodie, shared Cochrane's excitement at taking the V8's offshore across the Oceanic region.
"New Zealand is a key market for Shell's core business and we believe this will cement our position as a market leader and long-time supporter of motor racing at the highest level," Brodie said.
With plenty of top Kiwi V8 drivers to barrack for, including Paul Radisich, Greg Murphy and Craig Baird, plus the introduction of live SCS television coverage throughout both islands on TVNZ, the Supercars are growing in popularity overseas as well as here in Australia.
Cochrane said the Supercar coverage throughout New Zealand has proven very popular among the somewhat motorsport-starved Kiwi public.
"The Shell Championship Series races televised have consistently reached number one in the ratings and I'm sure New Zealand fans will relish the opportunity to be track-side to experience the live V8 Supercar action," he said.
The Pukekohe meeting, believed to be a sprint-race event, will be held early in the season from March 23-25.
The race will form part of AVESCO's new-look 14-round Shell Series for 2001, which will see the Indy support event dumped from the calendar, and a new event added, likely to be held at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
"Not only does it confirm the phenomenal growth in the category, it is
testimony to the enormous increase in popularity of the V8 Supercars," Cochrane said.
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