The Motorsport Company has confirmed their summer program dates for this coming season.
The six-round race championship season will follow the traditional format of starting at Pukekohe over the first weekend of November then heading south for three rounds at Christchurch, Invercargill and Timaru before heading back north for the Manfeild and Taupo events.
A slight break from tradition will see the Christchurch round two weeks later than normal. This will take place over the second weekend of December, moved from the last weekend of November.
Heading the championship series will be the BNT V8s which will contest all six rounds. Last year the series competed over seven rounds, the finale being held at the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercars street race in April.
However there will be an exciting change of format at some rounds with the introduction of a three round Endurance Championship Series. A Saturday evening endurance race will be held at the Pukekohe, Christchurch and Taupo weekends.
The V8 Utes and Suzuki Swift Sport Cup will also contest all six rounds, building on their popularity from last season.
Two new classes to cater for the ‘fastest and out there’ saloon cars will also feature at every event to create more entertainment across the six events.
These classes will give NZ saloon car drivers the opportunity to race in front of larger crowds at a televised event.
Selected events will also feature the hugely popular BMW Race Series and Muscle Cars.
The Toyota Racing Series (TRS) will compete at rounds three, four and five (Invercargill, Timaru and Manfeild) as well as contesting two other events planned for Hampton Downs and Taupo Motorsport Park. These will follow on from the Timaru round, giving an expected large international driver contingent five consecutive rounds of very competitive racing.
Formula Ford will be opened up to provide more opportunity and will contest rounds two to five as well as one other of the TRS International rounds.
Motorsport NZ has also locked in television coverage again following a similar format to last season.
Calendar
Round 1: 4th -6th November 2011, Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe
Round 2: 9-11 December 2011, Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Christchurch (note two weeks later than tradition)
Round 3: 13th-15th January 2012, Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Round 4: 20th-22nd January 2012, Timaru International Raceway, Timaru
Round 5: 10th 12th February 2012, Manfeild Park, Fielding
Round 6: 9th-11th March 2012, Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
