Motorsport: Race by day, rock by night puts V8 into popular

ZZ Top. Photo / Supplied

The main straight grandstands and flexi grandstand seats at the ITM400 Hamilton are completely sold out for this weekend's V8 Supercars race - but good seats and tickets are still available.

The only New Zealand race in the V8 Supercar championship is proving to be far more popular than anticipated ahead of the sales rush in the final week before the event.

It's the first time since the inaugural year that tickets sales have been so strong. The main straight grandstands, flexi grandstands and three-day tickets, with access to the ZZ Top and Good Charlotte concerts, have proven the most popular. Sales are well ahead of the previous year in the first time the event has been managed by V8 Supercars and includes a number of new initiatives, such as the Saturday and Sunday night free concerts, which have delivered outstanding first-year results.

"The fact we built a substantial amount of additional flexi-stands compared with last year and they are sold out a week before is enormously satisfying," said event manager Greg Mosen.

"It looks like even though many Kiwis have been through some fairly rough times in the past 12 months, they are ready for a weekend of world class racing, entertainment, action and fun.

"There are still GA tickets left, some great seats in the newly covered Hinemoa Platinum Stand and the other remaining grandstands around the track. But knowing how sales spike in the last week I would get in quick."

The resurgent sales coincide with New Zealand's first taste of the "race by day, rock all night' format, offering event goers a full weekend of entertainment along with Saturday night's ZZ Top concert and Sunday's Good Charlotte concert included.

The impressive sales figures are also a big positive for Christchurch after an announcement that $5 from every pre-purchased Ticketek sale is being donated to the Red Cross Christchurch Relief Fund. Also popular are the single day passes for the event, which are still available. Prices range from $28 for a Friday pass through to $73 for a Saturday or Sunday day pass, inclusive of the ZZ Top and Good Charlotte concerts.

* Tickets to the ITM400 Hamilton can still be purchased from Ticketek agencies, by visiting ticketek.co.nz or by calling 0800 TICKETEK. For full ticket prices, information and terms visit v8supercars.com.