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Team changes featuring two top drivers and the return of another two will spark interest in the 2004-5 seven-round New Zealand V8 touring cars beginning this month at Pukekohe.
Current champion Andy Booth moved to Orix Team Racing from Team Kiwi Racing after the conclusion of last season's championship.
Booth joins former NZ V8 champion Paul Manuell in what is likely to be the top Holden team.
Team Kiwi withdrew from the New Zealand series as they wanted to focus on their Australian V8 Supercar campaign.
The other top runner changing team is Angus Fogg, who finished fourth overall last year.
He joins a revamped Caltex Havoline team to run alongside last season's runner-up Paul Pedersen in a two-car Ford team.
Making their return with the Tracer Motorsport team are John McIntyre, a former NZ V8 top-runner, and well-known V8 Supercar driver Charlie O'Brien.
Hard-charging O'Brien raced in New Zealand last summer in the trans-Tasman Porsche GT3 series, so is familiar with the circuits.
The first round will be at Pukekohe on October 16-17.
NZ V8 calendar:
Oct 16-17 Pukekohe; Nov 27-28 Christchurch; Jan 8-9 Timaru; Jan 15-16 Teretonga; Feb 19-20 Manfeild; March 12-13 Taupo; April 15-17 Pukekohe.
- NZPA
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