Eric Thompson writes that parties are coming to terms over contractual disagreements and getting back to racing.
Following on from last week's dig at the various factions vying to run the New Zealand V8 series, I have good news to report.
I'm unsure who initially saw the light, or if was good stewardship under the new MotorSport New Zealand (MNZ) president, but the rumoured split in the
category has been kicked into touch.
I don't care either way who sorted it all out, but it seems the grownups have told the squabbling children to pull their heads in and put the toys back in the pram.
By all means, shakeups are good for any sport but they should be done in a mature and organised way, not running around spreading rumour and innuendo. This only serves to reiterate any already perceived opinion of dysfunctionality within New Zealand motorsport.
Thankfully, what we have now is a situation where everyone is facing the same way, apparently singing from the same hymn sheet and with the good of the sport at heart.
The Vee Eight Entrances Group Association (Veega), the previously less-than-transparent organisation whose machinations and almost Machiavellian ways nobody outside the group could understand, has now appointed two-time NZV8 champion John McIntyre as its spokesman.
Veega is a limited liability company comprising of 28 shareholders, or franchise holders, who have a V8 to race in the NZV8 championship. Not only has McIntyre been put forward as the their official spokesman, he has also been appointed as one of the five directors on the board.
"I don't think we we're really out of bed with The Motorsport Company (TMC)," said McIntyre. "What it all boiled down to was it was a company thing. It was about the business side of racing, not the sport, which is not controlled by us [Veega] or TMC. The sport is controlled by MNZ.
"TMC is a service provider being the promotions company and Veega is also a service provider who looks after the entrants bringing them together so we can go and race cars.
"The issue that came up was the terms of our conditions in our contract and both parties are changing these terms. How this blew out into what people have been talking about is a bit further than the facts.
"We're looking forward to continuing negotiations with TMC and will be able to make an announcement this week."
All this good news that the local V8 championship is now safe from fracture must have come as good news for MotorSport president Shayne Harris.
"I'm really pleased they've sorted it out," said Harris. "What we wanted [MNZ] was one championship and it's very pleasing that both parties are working towards that.
"We certainly didn't want a division in the series and the value of common sense has come to the front."
Kerry Cooper, The Motorsport Company general manager, is keen to get on with organising the forthcoming season now all the wrangling over who's going to be running what series has been resolved.
"There are a number of small details to sort out surrounding the coming season but both our expectations are more aligned and previous meeting have resolved the bigger issues," said Cooper.
Now that all the finger pointing has ended, let's hope the country can go racing.
