Air Base leads V8 race

Whenuapai favoured. File photo / Kenny Rodger

Whenuapai Air Base leads the pack in the race to win hosting rights for the V8 Supercars event.

V8 Supercars will move the race from Hamilton after next year following a string of financial losses. Supercars acting chief executive Shane Howard said he was keen to move the race to a major centre such as Auckland, which had the population and facilities to support it.

"It's our 100 per cent goal to stay in New Zealand," he said. "Whenuapai could be a good option seriously worth considering."

Howard ruled out Pukekohe and Hampton Downs unless major changes were made.

"Pukekohe is a good little circuit but it would need considerable money spent to bring it up to an acceptable standard."Howard said Hampton Downs could not cater for the crowd expected and its location, halfway between Auckland and Hamilton, was an issue to overcome. Hampton Downs director Tony Roberts said its resource consent permitted 20,000 people a day and could be increased.

The race costs from $12 million to $15 million to run, needed an attendance of about 155,000 to be successful and he said government money would be essential to assist with building the circuit.

The involvement of former Hamilton mayor Michael Redman, now chief executive of Auckland Tourism and Events, was a factor in Auckland's favour. "He knows what it drives economically and knows how it can excite a city," Howard said.

Former Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey wants the Auckland Council and Government to steer clear of the deal. He said the numbers did not stack up when a proposal to move the race to Whenuapai was put to his council.