Motorsport: English drivers add spice to world 240s champs

The World 240s Superstock Championships are being staged in Rotorua tonight and tomorrow. Photo / Andrew

Some of New Zealand's best stock car drivers will compete for a world title in Rotorua today.

The World 240s Superstock Championships are being held tonight and tomorrow at Paradise Valley Raceway including three drivers from England.

The event has been running since 1987 in New Zealand, starting in Palmerston North before shifting to Rotorua.

Defending champion Shane Penn, from Palmerston North, will head the field for the event.

Qualifying for the final begins tonight with 21 of the 26 spots in the final still up for grabs.

Paradise Valley Raceway president Steve Layne said each year they invite drivers from overseas, giving the event a world status.

The three-race final will be staged tomorrow night with a repechage also being held tomorrow prior to the final.

The driver with the most points during the three-race final will be crowned champion of the New Zealand Welding School World 240s Superstock Championships.

Three-time New Zealand champion Craig Boote will make his first appearance at the World 240s Superstock Championships since it moved to Rotorua.

Meanwhile, the three overseas drivers racing at the event all hail from England.

Frankie Wainman Jnr has a lot of experience in the World 240s and will be an overseas driver to keep an eye on.

The three English drivers have automatically qualified for the final tomorrow.

The Rotorua Rascals stockcar team, who were recently crowned New Zealand champions, will also be racing tomorrow night.

They will look to defend the Ross Orr Memorial Trophy, which is hotly contested between Rotorua and Huntly's stockcar clubs.