Wellington ........ race.

[eldougo]

There is a story in the Wellington paper that Tony .C is talking to the local in NZ about starting some more street races in the capital again, last race was in 1996.Does that
mean that Pukekohe is on the way out .Or maybe 2 racesin NZ.

[GTRMagic]

It is likely that there will be 2 races in NZ in the future (2005 on I would think) and that a street race in each of Wellington and Auckland will be the preferred formats. Its almost a revival of the Nissan-Mobil 500 Group A days

Not sure who is stumping up for the cost of the events though....

[jetsetter]

1 race in China & 2 in N.Z., why do Holden & Ford bother to sell their products in Australia because give it a few years & TC will have more overseas races than Australian races & all this time i mistakenly believed it was an Australian championship.

[racer69]

As far as i'm aware there will either be a second NZ race or a race a China, not both.

Wouldn't mind seeing Wellington back, as long as it is closely based on the original circuit, not like the one used in 1996.

Would be a major pity if Pukekohe got axed, considering the effort they put in for the race.

[Thunder1]

Does this mean that V8 Supercar will go Internationale and the Konica will become the national series.
I would like to see that. Maybe the racing in the both categories will not be so stagnated to what the fans are seeing at the moment.

Thunder1

[Antrodemus]

Interesting... especially as I'm likely to be moving there next year..

I also doubt it will be anything like the original circuit, which now has the impressively large Te Papa/Museum of NZ sitting on top of it.

[RaceTime]

Thunder1 - AVESCO is attempting to take the series internationally - however, there are a couple of major stumbling blocks to this. Consider the following:

FIA rules will prevent a full international series - and by this the FIA means any national series that has more than 2 off shore rounds. So they can have one NZ and China round and then they start to run foul of the FIA. This one will be interesting to see how AVESCO get around it.

Pukekohe has a contract for the next 2-3 years (not sure of exact figure - someone else can fill this in). AVESCO want a 2nd NZ race (makes sense really) but, again, there is the FIA problem - but also a location. AA reported this week that Taupo and Manfeild on the North Island and Christchurch are al vying for a race - Taupo needs a LOT of work and an extension before it could be used though. Reportedly both Wellington and Auckland street circuits are being planned.

And then this leaves Bahrain and the middle east...

So for AVESCO to stay under the FIA umbrella is going to be a problem - the FIA isn;t going to give Australian V8's and international series - it is too localised a category.

The final problem is - what do they do about Australian circuits? AVESCO are already on record as saying that tey have jst the right number of races - so if any new venues OS are brought in - which tracks get the chop here?

And, the $64 million question - what will happen to the Australian fan base if they start running more rounds overseas? The big drawcard fr the series here is that Joe Blow can go to a race track to see and hear the cars. How many fans will have the money (and time) to go overseas to follow the series?

[promax]

Originally posted by RaceTime
Taupo needs a LOT of work and an extension before it could be used though.

Apparently the Taupo circuit is getting an upgrade

http://www.car.co.nz/race.asp?articleid=4644

I'll believe it when I see it

[RaceTime]

Last weeks AA alluded to that fact (the upgrade) as well - having doen some timing in the tracks well appointed timing facilities I can only say it needs a lottttt of money spent on it

[promax]

Like I said... I'll believe it when I see it

That's right you did the timing at one of the bike meets. I remember you saying that one of the riders had a "big off".

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by RaceTime
AVESCO are already on record as saying that tey have jst the right number of races - so if any new venues OS are brought in - which tracks get the chop here?

And, the $64 million question - what will happen to the Australian fan base if they start running more rounds overseas?

Two NZ races is not a problem, but before doing anything else off shore IMO, there MUST be a round in EVERY state of Austrlia INCLUDING Qld and Tas. ACT? Well, the Canberra 400 was OK if it was in the warmer months. Whoever decided it was OK to run it during winter in one of the two coldest states in the country?

Much has been made of how Tas misses out- they don't even get a Konica round and neither does Qld. Where is the sense in that? Look at the population of Qld. It is not right that Tas misses out- if street circuits are the way to go for AVESCO , then do one around Hobart.

[RaceTime]

There is a difference, however, in what should be done and what can be done.

Granted there should be a round in every state before any championship can call itself a National Title. However, there is no rule (CAMS or FIA) covering this.

Holding more than 2 offshore rounds, however, IS covered under FIA rules and guidelines - and this is the one that is going to be hard to overcome.

[Mattracer]

Regardless of rules, there should be a round in every state as a matter of credibility and fairness. The recent Procar round at Symmons by all accounts was just what the doctor ordered. It's not the circuits themselves per se, it's the infrastructure and future planning that can't cope well enough with the demand, but take away a circuit's main motivation for upgrading and improving, then how can any planning take place without something to plan for?

I'm, sorry, but I can't see the relevance of racing in places like China or Bahrain. NZ has produced several top shelf drivers, all of whom are currently racing in the series, and Holden and Ford export to that market so there is no doubt that a race meeting or two are totally justified in that market. The fact that the motor industry in China is expanding greatly is fine, but V8s? I can't think of a more unsuitable market to sell powerful, big capacity cars in a country of it's population vs land size.

[RaceTime]

Mattracer - totally agree. Personally I see no real problem with both NZ and AUS becoming one ASN under CAMS to allow cross-racing (anything like cross-dressing?? ) between the two countrie.

As for China - the reasoning being given by HRT is that Holden and Ford are both elling models into China and they are claiming it will become a large and important export site for both of them.

But IMHO, whoopeedoo! A Holden with handlebars??

[Mattracer]

Well, there is an HSV mountain bike on the market. They could get many more of them in a plane.