Fierce Competition Masks Camaraderie Behind the Scenes

Fierce Competition Masks Camaraderie Behind the Scenes

While the battleground of the NZV8 Touring Cars is tough it masks the camaraderie which lies beneath when a leading motor racing series tours throughout the country.

While in the relatively remote location of Invercargill and to a lesser degree Timaru where many of the NZV8TC teams spend a couple of weeks a fair distance from their homes in the North Island, anything can happen and when it does can potentially ruin a race weekend for some.

The drivers, owners and crew of these teams have mostly known each other for their entire lives coming through karting and moved through various classes it is well within reason that when someone is caught out they all pull together to solve their problem.

Although these very professional teams carry with them extensive parts and supplies it is a testament to the spirit of motorsport that all of the teams pull together when the need arises.

"We had a couple of issues last weekend where some of the teams pulled their resources to help out including our very own Ross Cameron from Dunedin who sourced for us parts needed by one of our drivers." said NZV8TC chairman Ian Booth.

"Although on that occasion he missed the start by 15 minutes we were still able to get him ready for the next race thanks to Ross and all those who pitched in." he said.

NZV8 Touring Cars Announces New Sponsor for Timaru

The NZV8 Touring Cars are very pleased to welcome a new major sponsor for this weekend at Timaru International Motor Raceway.

Clarke Machine Hire have come on board for this weekend's Round Three and with an operation which extends from it's original base in Dunedin to having branches throughout the South Island they are a very apt supporter of the series while here at Timaru.

Paul Clarke from Clarke Machine Hire is an avid supporter of motorsport and the NZV8 Touring Cars and is pleased to offer his support to this weekend.

Test Session - Timaru International Motor Raceway

In today's first test session Timaru driver John Hepburn was second fastest in the NZV8 Touring Class TL Championship with 1.08.648 behind only the current series leader James McLaughlin from Lower Hutt who set a best time of 1:07.917 and in third was Brad Lauder from Turua with 1:08.719.

In the NZV8 Touring Cars TLX Championship defending champion Jason Bargwanna was quickest by a small margin with 1:04.165 to current series leader Nick Ross who set 1:04.332 over Bargwanna's team mate in the second Toyota A J Lauder who set a 1:05.149.

NZV8 Touring Cars Schedule - Timaru

This weekend's exciting NZV8 Touring Car Championship's visit to Timaru gets underway with the always popular driver's signing session at 6PM Friday.

On saturday the on-track action begins with a test session at 10.46AM and qualifying at 1.10PM followed by the Top 10 Shootout and then the weekend's first race at 3.29PM.

On Sunday the action fires up again with a reversed grid race two at 11.29AM and then a longer 25 lapper for race three which includes a pitstop for the TLX class and begins at 2.06PM.

Along with the NZV8 Touring Cars Championship the weekend will include more exciting racing from Toyota Racing Series, NZ Formula Ford, Nitto Tyres NZ Six, NZ Sports Sedan Challenge, Rally Class Series and the Mainland Muscle Cars.

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Attached photos are for editorial publication and are supplied by NZV8 Touring Cars

NZV8 Touring Cars Calendar

Rd 1 Pukekohe Park Raceway 16-17 November 2013 (completed)
Rd 2 Teretonga Park, Invercargill 11-12 January 2014 (completed)
Rd 3 Timaru International Motor Raceway 18-19 January 2014
Rd 4 Manfeild, Feilding (NZ Grand Prix) 08-09 February 2014
Rd 5 Taupo Motorsport Park 08-09 March 2014
Rd 6 Pukekohe Park (V8 Supercars) 25-27 April 2014 (ANZAC Weekend)

Results, championship standings and more information is available on www.nzv8touringcars.co.nz

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