Both classes in the NZV8 Touring Cars are in the running for the prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy due to the
nature of the third and final race at Manfeild Circuit in Feilding this Sunday afternoon.
The 20 lap race between the two classes will comprise of a compulsory pitstop and wheelchange for the faster TLX cars
which will not only put pressure on the crews as they compete against their rival teams but will open the race up to the
TL class for victory and claiming of the significant trophy.
"There is a lot of hype going into this round with the points being so close and the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy up
for grabs so there is a lot of excitement in both the TLX and TL camps." said NZV8 Touring Cars Chairman Ian Booth.
"I am personlly looking forward to this weekend because of the trophy and everybody having the chance to win it." he
said.
At this time last year the first two cars over the finish line in race three at Manfeild were from the TL class with
Andrew Anderson taking the chequered flag ahead of Kevin Williams and then TLX driver Nick Ross making it a Holden one,
two and three.
Last year the trophy was competed for at round five in Taupo but now with it being moved to Manfeild there will be
everything to race for this weekend and Sunday's final race for the NZV8 Touring Cars promises to be a highlight of this
bumper weekend of motorsport.
"Last year when a TL car won the race they had started in front of the TLX cars. This year they won't be but anything
can happen and If the TLX cars don't get such a good pitstop then all the TLs will be on the hunt." said Mr Booth.
"Last year a TL won comfortably so the difference at the start is all there is to it, when Andrew (Anderson) was
crossing the finish line Nick Ross (TLX Holden) was still on the back straight coming into the last turn so It's still
in the bag for a TL car to win the race and the trophy could easily be won by either class." he said.
The reason for the TLX cars starting ahead of the TL class this year is due to safety where the TLX drivers should only
have to pass the TL cars once if at all in the race when they are more spread out giving less chance of carnage and
accident.
This exciting NZV8 Touring Cars race will be held after the Formula Ford Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy race and before
the iconic New Zealand Grand Prix race competed for by the Toyota Racing Series so the spectators can expect some
exceptionally thrilling motorsport action to end of their weekend at Manfeild.
On track action gets underway for the NZV8 Touring Cars this Saturday 8th February with a test session at 10.15am and
qualification at 2.05pm followed by a Top 10 Shootout between the fastest five cars from both classes.
The first NZV8 Touring Cars race of the weekend is at 5.35pm Saturday with race two on Sunday at 11.44am and the Jason
Richards Memorial Trophy (race three) at 3.16pm.
The third and final race of the weekend will be 20 laps with a rolling start and with a compulsory pitstop for the
faster TLX cars opening the door for the race and trophy to be won by a Holden, Ford or Toyota from either class.
NZV8 Touring Cars Schedule for Manfeild Park 7-9th February 2014
Friday 7 Feb
18.00 Gates open - see below for entertainment information
18.30 Drivers signing session 1 hour
20.45 Fireworks display
Saturday 8 Feb
10.15 Test session
14.05 Qualifying
14.30 Top 10 Shoot-out (Fastest five from both TLX and TL)
17.35 Race One - 12 laps (rolling start)
Sunday 9 Feb
11.44 Race Two - 14 laps (rolling start - top 5 TLX and TL reversed)
15.16 Race Three - 20 laps (rolling start - pit stop and wheel change for TLX)
NZV8 Touring Cars Championship Standings (after three rounds)
NZV8 Touring Cars TLX Championship
1st Nick Ross Cambridge Holden Commodore 614
2nd Jason Bargwanna Australia Toyota Camry 584
3rd A J Lauder Turua Toyota Camry 487
4th Lance Hughes Hamilton Holden Commodore 467
5th Shaun Varney Auckland Ford TLX 446
NZv8 Touring Cars TL Championship
1st James McLaughlin Lower Hutt Holden Commodore 487
2nd Ian Booth Hamilton Holden Commodore 461
3rd Grant Molloy Invercargill Ford Falcon 458
4th Brock Cooley Wellington Ford Falcon 451
5th Brad Lauder Turua Ford Falcon 439
6th Bronson Porter Hamilton Holden Commodore 335
7th Liam MacDonald Invercargill Ford Falcon 318
8th Matthew Booth Hamilton Holden Commodore 292
9th John Hepburn Timaru Ford Falcon 189
10th Glenn Pelham Mt Maunganui Ford Falcon 136
11th Nigel Karl Auckland Holden Commodore 126
12th Barry Holden Hamilton Ford Falcon 49
NZV8 Touring Cars
The NZV8 Touring Cars are a two class series consisting of the New Generation NZV8 race cars and are open to various
manufacturers rather than just Ford and Holden.
Currently the faster TLX class hosts three manufacturers including Holden, Ford and Toyota with Nissan set to join the
series this year.
The TL class is made up of Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon race cars built to the previous NZV8s specifications.
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 (completed)
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
NZV8 Touring Cars supports the “KID IN CARS CHARITY TRUST”
ENDS