SuperTrucks return to Pukekohe

After a 10-year absence, truck racing returns to Pukekohe in November.

After a 10-year absence, the 1500 horsepower, five-tonne monsters of the New Zealand SuperTruck Championship return to Pukekohe Park Raceway as a major support class to the BNT NZ SuperTourers Fuchs 500 event, 29th/30th November 2014.

BNT NZ SuperTourers Sales & Marketing Manager Mike Marsden says the series is excited to be joined by the entertaining NZ SuperTrucks.

"For NZ SuperTruck racing fans, getting these big rigs back to Pukekohe is fantastic. You can't help but marvel when you see these things race; they are absolutely amazing to watch. There are a lot of truck racing fans in and around Auckland, and we are confident there will be a good following when they return to the track in November," says Marsden.

Local SuperTruck driver Troy Wheeler says the Pukekohe event will be Round 1 of a 5 Round championship for the trucks and is rejuvenation for the series.

"To be back at Pukekohe after 10-years is really great for us, and to be alongside the BNT SuperTourers. There are also quite a few race trucks in the North Island that haven't been out for a few years so getting back to Pukekohe may be the incentive to get them back on the track," says Wheeler.

"We're excited to get out on the new track format. We'll hit our top speed of 160km/hr part way down the back straight, and the new section down the end will provide a couple of new passing opportunities for our trucks and drivers."

The last time these diesel behemoths raced at the Pukekohe circuit, a horrendous crash saw the Mack of Cedric Abernethy go through two safety barriers and end upside down near the pit lane.

Abernethy broke both his legs and his truck was a mangled wreck, but now with the recent safety upgrades made to the Pukekohe circuit, the crowd favourite SuperTrucks will return.

Truck Racing was first established in New Zealand in 1989.The founding members were just normal every day guys who decided that racing tractor units sounded like a great idea after seeing racing from Europe and Australia. They developed road-going trucks into racing machines and developed three different classes and from there the sport became wildly popular with kiwi motorsport fans.

The NZ SuperTrucks have had many renowned drivers over the years such as Denny Hulme, Neil Allport, Jim Richards, Avon Hyde, Ron Salter, Inky Tulloch, Robin and Andrew Porter and Calvin Bonney.

In recent years V8 stars the likes of Kayne Scott and Angus Fogg have jumped behind the wheel.

It is expected that around a dozen NZ SuperTrucks will compete at Round 1 of the series at Pukekohe.

The BNT NZ SuperTourers and NZ SuperTrucks will also be joined by the UDC NZV8 Utes, NZV8 Touring Cars, Toyota Finance 86 Series, Honda Cup, and the SsangYong Actyon Racing Series.

Tickets and hospitality are on sale for all rounds. Go to www.v8st.co.nz for more info.