The ITM 400 Auckland will come with a new race format. There will be two 100km races on both Saturday and Sunday, each with its own 15-minute qualifying session.
The format means there will be no mid-race fuel stops, just 30 laps of action on the Pukekohe raceway. While there will be no-holds-barred sprint action, the format also demands endurance from both machine and driver with 400km of racing.
"It's going to be full-on. Nailing the setup of the car straight off the plane in the first practice session will be the absolute key to an overall result," said ITM 400 Auckland ambassador Greg Murphy.
"Qualifying is always vital and getting the high-speed balance right is essential because Pukekohe is such a fast and flowing circuit. It's been five years since V8 Supercars have been there and there have been some significant changes.
"They will need to get to grips with that very quickly while still learning the new cars."
Shane Howard, V8 Supercars chief operations officer, says the format changes are designed for the teams and drivers to race hard and fight for every position.
"With the new marques joining Ford and Holden in 2013 it was an opportunity for a change across the board while continuing the great traditions of our signature events."
The V8 Supercars will complete two hours of practice in four 30-minute sessions on Friday, with qualifying and Top 10 Shootout before two 100km races on each of Saturday and Sunday.
Start your engines... Here's the ITM 400 Pukekohe Race Schedule
Friday 12 April
0910-0930 Muscle Car20 min Practice/Test
0940-1000 GT120 min Practice/Test
1010-1040 V8 Supercars30 min Practice 1
1050-1100 F5000 10 min Practice/Test
1105-1125 NZV8 Utes 20 min Practice/Test
1135-1155 NZV8 20 min Practice/Test
1205-1235 V8 Supercars 30 min Practice 2
1245-1305 Muscle Cars20 min Qualifying
1310-1320 Drag Car10 min Demonstration
1330-1350 GT120 min Qualifying
1400-1430 V8 Supercars 30 min Practice 3
1440-1500 NZV8 Utes 20 min Qualifying
1510-1525 V8 TV15 min
1535-1605 V8 Supercars 30 min Practice 4
1615-1635 NZV8 20 min Qualifying
1645-1715 V8 Supercars30 min Rides
Saturday 13 April
0800-0830 Promoter Rides 30 min
0840-0855 GT18 laps Race 1
0905-0920 NZV8 Utes8 laps Race 1
0935-0950 V8 Supercars15 min Qualifying
1000-1015 V8 Supercars15 min Qualifying
1030-1045 Muscle Cars 8 laps Race 1
1100-1130 V8 Supercars 30 min Top 10 Shootout
1140-1150 F5000 10 min Demonstration
1200-1220 NZV8 10 laps Race 1
1225-1235 Britten M'cycle 10 min Demonstration
1240 V8 Supercars 30 Minute Signal
1245 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Open
1250 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Closed
1310 V8 Supercars 35 laps or 1 lap after 1355 Race 6
1405-1415 Drag Car10 min Demonstration
1425-1440 GT18 laps Race 2
1435-1455 V8 Supercars 20 min Autographs
1450-1505 NZV8 Utes8 laps Race 2
1510-1525 Harley Davidsons10 min Parade
1525 V8 Supercars 30 Minute Signal
1530 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Open
1535 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Closed
1555 V8 Supercars 35 laps or 1 lap after 1640 Race 7
1700-1720 Course Car Rides 20 min
Sunday 14 April
0810-0830 NZV8 10 laps Race 2
0830-0855 V8 Supercars 25 min Autographs
0840-0855 Muscle Cars10 laps Race 2
0905-0925 GT110 laps Race 3 Handicap Start
0935-0955 Course Rides, Pit Lane Walk20 min
1005-1020 V8 Supercars15 min Qualifying
1030-1045 V8 Supercars 15 min Qualifying
1100-1120 NZV8 Utes10 laps Race 3
1130-1140 V8 Supercars 10 min Driver Parade
1150-1210 NZV8 10 laps Race 3
1220-1230 Beach Hop Cars 10 min Parade Lap
1240 V8 Supercars 30 Minute Signal
1245 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Open
1250 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Closed
1310 V8 Supercars35 laps or 1 lap after 1355 Race 8
1405-1415 Drag Car10 min Demonstration
1425-1445 Muscle Cars10 laps Race 3
1452-15:00Britten Motorcycle 8 min Demonstration
1505-1520 F5000 15 min Demonstration
1525 V8 Supercars 30 Minute Signal
1530 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Open
1535 V8 Supercars Pit Exit Closed
1555 V8 Supercars35 laps or 1 lap after 1640 Race 9