Airbase lifeline for V8 supercars

The Government has stepped in to keep V8 supercars racing in New Zealand, with conditional approval to let them use Whenuapai airbase.

This follows a threat by Australian supercar organisation Avesco, which says it has run its last race at Pukekohe, to quit New Zealand after bids to run the event in downtown Auckland and Wellington failed.

Defence Minister Mark Burton - reversing a previous decision - has let Whenuapai be available for up to 10 days a year for the New Zealand leg of the series.

But he said the Air Force must be able to reclaim the base at 24 hours' notice if a "significant emergency" arose.

He has indicated in a letter to Whenuapai town planner Pete Sinton, who has run a long campaign with motoring legend Frank Radisich to turn the base into a racetrack, that the event could stay there for six to seven years if tight conditions were met.

However, he said his first obligation was to ensure the operational integrity of Whenuapai as a military airbase, and the conditions for its use represented a clear "bottom line" for the Air Force.

Although Auckland Airport has offered to accommodate military aircraft during the races and their preparation and wind-up phases, Mr Burton said officials had deemed 10 days to be the maximum acceptable limit for the base to be operationally unavailable.

His u-turn followed the intervention of Prime Minister Helen Clark, after Mr Sinton and Mr Radisich sent her a detailed report on the benefits of keeping the races in Auckland.

This included confirmation by consultants Market Economics of an estimate extrapolated from Auckland City Council research that the event would pump an extra $46.5 million a year into the regional economy by attracting 150,000 spectators.

The report was accompanied by letters of support from Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard and Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey reaffirmed his support last week, but only after acknowledging little prospect of persuading the Government to turn Whenuapai into a civilian airport in the near future.

Avesco would not comment directly on Mr Burton's decision, referring the Herald to a statement it issued on Wednesday announcing that its board had reconsidered its intention to quit New Zealand.

The board is understood to have received a copy of the decision during a critical meeting on the Gold Coast on Tuesday to set its annual racing calendar.

Mr Sinton said yesterday that Mr Burton's conditional approval was a major step forward, but it was too soon to break out the champagne.

"We have still got technical things to get over, but now ... it will be up to Aucklanders to get behind."

He acknowledged strong concern by Avesco that 10 days would not be enough to prepare for and run the event, but said Whenuapai would be far easier to turn into a temporary racetrack than city streets.