V8 Utes Confirmed for Hamilton 400 With Trans-Tasman Battle

Trans Tasman rivalry at its brutal best will feature on the streets of Hamilton at the third ITM400 V8 Supercar Championship event next April.  Organisers have announced that the New Zealand’s sole round of the V8 Supercar Championship will also include a one-off Trans Tasman Test series for V8 Utes as a major support class.

It will feature 16 utes from Australia and 16 from New Zealand in door-banging action.

ITM400 Event Director Steve Vuleta said the V8 Ute contest will add to the overall spectacular for race fans.   “The thought of 32 V8 Utes hurtling to Turn 1 is going to be some sight. When you add the fact that this is a battle between Australia and New Zealand then it is going to be pretty special,” Mr Vuleta said.

“We’ve been talking to the V8 Ute class and felt that we wanted to make this an experience that race fans cannot experience anywhere else.  That’s where the Trans Tasman idea came from and we are excited about the prospect.”

Australian V8 Ute Category Manager Craig Denyer is looking forward to the contest and hopes it may become an annual battle.   “The promoters of the ITM400 in Hamilton have offered a fantastic opportunity for us to perform at the largest motorsport event in New Zealand, and one of the biggest on either side of the Tasman,” Denyer said. “I am sure the New Zealand race fans won’t be disappointed with the action of 32 Ford and Holden Utes going door to door around the Hamilton street circuit.”

Current Australian V8 Ute championship leader Jack Elsegood is fizzing at the prospect.   “The racing will be sensational with the colour of our country on the line and hopefully there will be a few Aussie fans at the event to cheer us on,” Elsegood said.

New Zealand V8 Ute organiser Jamie Kett from Event 1 said he was thrilled at the prospect.   “There’s nothing that we Kiwis enjoy more than knocking the stuffing out of any Aussie team and the fact that we get to do it at New Zealand’s premier motorsport event in front of thousands of fans is just the icing on the cake,” Kett said. “It is our absolute intention to send them back home with their tails between their legs.”

The V8 Ute Trans Tasman Challenge includes two practice sessions, one qualifying session and three races over the weekend. Each row of the grid will include one Australian and one Kiwi V8 Ute to ensure there’s completion right throughout the field.

Source: www.nzracer.com