Pukekohe Raceway pre-renovation. Photo / Doug Sherring
The return of the V8 Supercars Championship to a revamped Pukekohe Park Raceway next month has the tick of approval from New Zealand motorsport legend Kenny Smith.
Smith has raced on the famous South Auckland circuit every year since it opened in 1963 and sees it fitting to mark the
50-year anniversary of Pukekohe Park Raceway by welcoming back the ITM 400 Auckland V8 Supercars, following a five-year hiatus.
"Something comes to Pukekohe each year that you have just got to see and this year that's the V8 Supercars; they're fantastic those cars," said the three-time New Zealand Grand Prix champion.
"The V8 Supercars will draw a lot of people there, definitely. People are saloon car lovers mostly because you can look at the cars and think, 'I drive one kind of like that', and also the word V8 makes a big difference. People just love to come out and listen to that racket the V8s make."
Smith, who is widely regarded as a single-seat specialist despite racing 18 different saloon cars throughout his 55-years behind the wheel, is happy to see his beloved Pukekohe reach the half-century milestone.
