Motorsport: Hamilton will rock in transtasman V8 ute battle

Transtasman rivalry will hit the streets of Hamilton at the third ITM400 Australian V8 Supercar event next April. The weekend also includes a one-off transtasman test series for V8 utes as a major support class.

Sixteen utes from Australia and 16 from New Zealand will go head-to-head. Event director Steve Vuleta said the V8 Ute contest will add to the overall spectacle for race fans.

"Thirty-two V8 utes hurtling into turn one 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," said Vuleta.

"We've been talking to the V8 ute class and felt we wanted to make this a racing opportunity race fans cannot experience anywhere else. That's where the transtasman idea came from and we are excited."

Australian V8 Ute category manager Craig Denyer is looking forward to the contest and hopes it may become an annual battle. Australian V8 Ute championship leader Jack Elsegood is also excited 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."

On this side of the Tasman, organiser Jamie Kett is thrilled.

"There's nothing that we Kiwis enjoy more than knocking the stuffing out of any Aussie team."

The V8 Ute Transtasman Challenge will include two practice sessions, one qualifying session and three races. Each row of the grid will include one Australian and one Kiwi V8 ute to ensure there's competition right throughout the field.