Optimistic Kiwis launch attack on Aussie V8 series
11/7/2000 20:43 (Jason Whittaker) - The traditional Australia V New Zealand sporting battle will now be fought at race circuits across the country, with the all-new Team Kiwi Racing outfit officially launching its attack on the Australian Supercar series last night.
Here they come: the much anticipated NZ V8Supercar team is primed to give the big boys a shake in 2001
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Team Kiwi Racing – the first all-New Zealand race team to compete in Australia’s biggest motorsport category – officially launched its dual-car campaign for the V8 Supercar title last night, amid claims the team has the potential to beat the Australians at their own game.
“We’re not going into this to be one of the also-rans, we ultimately want to be at the top, alongside the likes of the Holden Racing Team, Dick Johnson Racing and so on. We will certainly have similar facilities, staff expertise, equally competitive cars and budget to ensure it becomes a reality,” Team owner, David John, said.
“We’ve seen how New Zealanders get behind their country folk in other sports, now they can support the black cars on a weekly basis during the season and, hopefully see their team take some trophies off the Australians,” he said.
Based in New Zealand, and consisting of a team of local personnel, the multi-million dollar operation will run two Larry Perkins-prepared VT Commodores under the New Zealand General Motors banner.
The team will make its debut at Bathurst this year, before launching a complete, minimum three-year attack on the entire Shell Championship Series.
Mr John said Team Kiwi Racing would be an avenue for New Zealand drivers to tackle, arguably, the world’s toughest Touring Car Series, and be a sporting entity New Zealanders could be proud of.
“Team Kiwi Racing is a totally New Zealand project, with local drivers, support crew, funding and management,” Mr John said. “This will be a race team that all New Zealanders can be proud of and can have access to.”
The team’s state-of-the-art Auckland headquarters, massive Pantech transporter, two bold black and white VT Commodores, and a professional team of specialised personnel lie in wait, ready to tackle the greatest challenge in Australasian motorsport.
“Everything is go – our two race cars have been purchased; we have moved into our new Penrose (a suburb of Auckland) facility; our first transporter has arrived and we are excited about the opportunities ahead for Team Kiwi Racing and New Zealand in the Shell V8 Supercar series,” Mr John said.
As well, many sponsors have signed on the dotted line in support of the new operation, investing over eight million dollars into the new venture and ensuring its financial security for the full, four-year program.
The team will be permanently based in Auckland, necessary, Mr John says, to ensure the team remains “true to its roots,” despite the obvious expense.
Talented Kiwi racers, reigning NZ Touring Car champ, Jason Richards, and TraNZam ace, Ashley Fogg, will spearhead the team’s Bathurst campaign, and are expected to sign-on for next year’s Shell Series.
“Originally we gave four drivers the opportunity to test for places with Team Kiwi but only two were able to give the commitment required,” Mr John said.
“Rather than rush into the process of looking for additional team drivers, we have gone with the two committed drivers in the interest of settling the team early so that we can get on with the job of preparing for Bathurst and the Shell V8 Supercar series thereafter,” he said.
Both Richards and Fogg took a risk in joining the fledgling operation, but with their futures in the team now secure, both are excited at the prospect of taking-on the Australians.
“I’m stoked!” Richards, a three-time NZ Touring Car Champion, exclaimed.
“It was a hard decision to walk away from the successes I enjoyed in 2-litre Touring Cars without a secure contract. But this opportunity was just too good and I have to thank all the people with Team Kiwi for being up-front with the drivers and in finally putting such great faith in me.”
Fogg shared his sentiments. “I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I agreed to test, but my eyes have been opened by the directness and professionalism required at this level – not only from a driving point of view but from all aspects behind the scenes, involving everyone, including sponsors, to make this project work. It’s mind boggling,” he said.
“I consider it an honour to be part of Team Kiwi and thank them for the frankness that enabled us as drivers to know where we stood. I’m now looking forward to the challenges ahead and being able to contribute to the success of the team,” Fogg concluded.
A further two drivers will be named later in the year and will test alongside Richards and Fogg for the chance to pilot one of the team’s two Commodores for next year’s series.
The two drivers not chosen will run in the New Zealand Touring Car Championship, in one of two Team Kiwi Racing-prepared Nissans.
Team Kiwi entries are also expected in the V8 Lites Championship, and in the NZ National Karting Series – which will provide a breeding ground for future Team Kiwi Racing drivers.
Former head of the NZ Factory BMW operation, Martin Collins, fills the role of Team Manager for the new outfit.
The team is currently on a nation-wide tour of the land of the long white cloud to drum-up support for New Zealand’s newest sporting team.
“This is very much a people’s team and we want as many New Zealanders as possible to feel part of it – that’s why we are even going to conduct ongoing testing on tracks around the country instead of just at Pukekohe,” Mr John said.
Team Kiwi Racing will be able to compete on their home turf early next year, when the V8 circus heads overseas to Auckland’s Pukekohe Raceway in February.
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