Motorsport: V8s finally driving in same direction

All three NZV8 categories raced together for the first time at Pukekohe in April. Photo / Matt Smith

Big banger fans have reason to celebrate now that agreement has been reached on New Zealand’s Touring Car category

Following years of infighting, fractious and petty slanging matches, the dysfunctionality that was the stoush between V8 SuperTourers and the Motorsport New Zealand (MNZ) NZV8s has been put to bed.

Fans of V8 racing in New Zealand had turned their backs on the sport in their thousands as small grids of up to seven or eights cars put on a lacklustre show.

This weekend in Taupo, though, the warring parties have kissed and made up and are all on the same dance card for the opening round of the newly formed New Zealand Touring Cars category. MNZ has confirmed the new series will have championship status and has combined all three existing classes - V8 SuperTourers, NZV8 TLX and NZV8 TL - into one category.

Typical of some motorsport folk, there are still rumblings and mumblings about the dreaded parity, but the majority of teams and drivers involved are just plain happy they can go racing and put on a great show for the much-maligned fans of the sport.

Category manager Gary Lathrope nailed it when he said that it was no big secret top-tier motorsport has had some struggles in recent years. He went on to say he and his fellow organisers are confident that uniting the three categories will provide not only better racing for the competitors but better entertainment for the fans.

"There is an absolute commitment from all three previous categories to make it a success," he said in a statement.

"Its been too confusing for the fans as to which series to support. We have all listened and we are now determined to put on the most exciting and entertaining touring car races the country has seen for some time, all together as one with a good-sized field."

Those making the trip to the Taupo Motorsport Park will be in for a treat as up to 20 cars, and maybe more, will be lining up on the grid. Fords, Holdens, Toyotas and Nissans will all be bellowing into turn one battling it out for two titles - the NZ Touring Car Championship and the NZ Touring Car Championship Class Two.

Now that everyone has kissed and made up, the seven-round series has attracted former NZV8 champions Craig Baird and Angus Fogg back into the fold. However, all eyes will be on how the former champions of the SuperTourer and NZV8 TLX series, Simon Evans and Jason Bargwanna respectively, go head to head.

"It's going to be completely different to anything we've done before," said Evans, the SuperTourer champion. "Two of us [Bargwanna is NZV8 TLX champion] trying to defend two different championships in the same race is hard to comprehend.

"What's most important, though, is that we are all back on track in the same championship. It needed to happen for a long time and now everyone can understand what's going on because it's just the one series.

"It's going to be interesting how it goes on Saturday as I haven't raced on the Dunlop tyre we're all using this weekend. That's only a small thing and I think it's going to be good for everyone involved. Long term it's a positive thing for sponsors and fans."

Bargwanna has very similar thoughts to Evans and is looking forward to battling it out on full grids.

"It's been hard in the past with so few drivers racing for a championship," he said. "When the guy you're battling with has a bad day you want him to finish in 18th, not second to you. It makes it too hard to get a point's gap.

"Now with bigger grids the racing is going to be better and consistency will mean more [points] if the other bloke stuffs up. The racing is going to be epic and I can't wait to get amongst it. Parity will raise its head at times, but what is important is that the sport is heading in the right direction and we're going to put on a great show for the fans."

There is still work to be done to get the cars to be as close as possible but the fans won't worry too much about horsepower and chassis; they just want to see a lot of cars racing.

NZ Touring Car

Round 1 Taupo, October 17-18
Round 2 Pukekohe, November 6-7
Round 3 Hampton Downs, November 28-29
Round 4 Ruapuna, January 16-17, 2016
Round 5 Teretonga, January 23-24, 2016
Round 6 Manfeild, February 12-14, 2016
Round 7 Pukekohe, April 16-17, 2016