Race clubs at odds over V8s at Pukekohe

The Auckland Racing Club has issued a writ in the High Court against the Counties Racing Club allowing the V8 Supercars to race at Pukekohe next year.

The ARC is upset that the Counties club is hoping to stage the event which the ARC says contravenes a deal between the two clubs.

The clubs went into partnership to create a state of the art racehorse training centre at Pukekohe in the wake of the closure of the Takanini training track this year.

The ARC pledged $2.2 million on the understanding that the Supercars last month would be the last at the venue. Pukekohe was to become a horse-only facility.

The Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (Avesco) has tried to relocate the New Zealand leg of the series. Wellington is the likely new venue, but consent cannot be gained in time for next year.

The ARC is upset at reports that the CRC has had talks with Avesco for one more running of the series at Pukekohe.

The CRC does not accept that it gave assurances there would be no more car racing at Pukekohe Park.

ARC chairman Lyn Stevens told the Herald yesterday that his club was vitally interested in the health of the racing industry.

"We were promised there would be no more cars and understandably we are concerned the club has been in discussion with Avesco."

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Guy Sargent was yesterday attempting mediation. "The central issue is that both these clubs are in agreement to turn [Pukekohe] into a top-notch training facility."

Stevens said the clubs had been in negotiation since the writ was issued last week.