New Management Structure For UDC V8 Ute

NZ V8 Utes Press Release
28 NOVEMBER 2011

New Management Structure For UDC V8 Ute Championship

A change in the management structure of the UDC V8 Ute Championship has been made, as the Series enjoys its first year as a full New Zealand Championship.

Craig 'Sooty' Lord, well known in a variety of motorsport media roles, has been appointed Brand and Communications Manager for the Category. The restructure has allowed Lindsay Dodd, who had the 'do everything' job as Category Manager last season, the ability to assume a more focussed role as the Race Championship Co-ordinator.

Ash Cairns, who originally established the V8 Ute Racing Series in New Zealand and is the Chairman of the Board that manages the Category said: "Getting the Ute Category up and running

has been a work in progress over the last five years - and we have been progressively fine tuning our governance and management processes. Last year, when he came on board at fairly short notice, Lindsay did a great job as Category Manager - but one bloke can't do everything, and when the opportunity arose to get Craig involved, in what was essentially his specialist field, it was too good an opportunity to miss."

The restructuring has occurred as the Series continues to gain prestige. Two years ago V8 Utes were elevated to Tier 1 status, joining the annual MSNZ Summer Series line up. This season it has taken a further step with New Zealand Championship status bestowed upon it for the first time. Consequently, to manage the many demands of the Series' higher status, the new Brand and Communications Manager role for Lord has been created. This will subsequently free up Dodd to focus on the planning, organisation and race-day administration of the actual racing events.

Lord and Dodd are part of a management structure that also includes Technical Director Paul Isaac, Peter Robb - a Director of the Board and also the Drivers Representative and Hannah Hawes who will work under Lord's instruction as Brand & Media Liaison. Stuart Dwight, a well established Marketing and Event expert, will be contracted to find and service new corporate partners.

The changes come into effect in time for the next round of the UDC V8 Ute Championship which takes place at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna in Christchurch over the weekend of 9-11 December.

Support for the category throughout 2011/2012 comes from UDC Finance, Armorall, Xtreme Clutches, Nulon Oil, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama, Woodstock, BMC Filters, SCT and EFILive.

© Scoop Media