Motorsport: V8s boss confident of NZ future

A view of the start of race five of the Hamilton 400. Photo / Getty Images

V8 Supercars chief executive Martin Whitaker is sure the category's future in New Zealand is strong.

V8 Supercars has had to take over the promotions for this weekend's Hamilton 400 event after the previous local promoter ran into financial troubles following the 2010 races.

But Whitaker believes New Zealand is still a key destination for the championship although he refused to confirm whether the Hamilton event's future had been secured.

"The most important thing is our relationship with New Zealand as a whole and that is very much a long term relationship," Whitaker told AAP on Saturday.

"The future of V8 Supercars is very much in place as far as New Zealand is concerned."

Whitaker clearly is keen to continue with the Hamilton street circuit event which has been a part of the calendar since 2008.

Hamilton's new mayor Julie Hardaker claimed to be "horrified" shortly after taking office in December when she discovered the V8s had received $27.4 million (A$20.65 million) from the previous council for the first three years of the event.

And Whitaker said the challenge this weekend is to prove to Hardaker and her council that the event is worth the expense.

"They've obviously had some tricky times in the past (but) I don't think it pays to dwell on the past," Whitaker said.

"With the change in council and the new mayor, clearly the mayor has come in and had a look at things and I think they recognise the value of the event to the city of Hamilton ... (we've) just got to run a really good event this weekend and convince them V8s are doing the right thing here."

Whitaker also hinted V8s would be keen to find another new local promoter to ease the pressures on their own team.

"I think we always prefer to find a promoter to take that on because it's just another thing to add to our daily activities," he said.

"This year we're running nine events, that's a big number of events to run ... Shane (Howard, V8s chief operating officer) and his team and the events team have got a massive job."

- AAP