RSA to host V8 Supercars drivers

27 March 2014

RSA to host V8 Supercars drivers

V8 Supercars drivers Fabian Coulthard, Chaz Mostert, Will Davidson and Michael Caruso will provide a unique perspective on life behind the wheel at a charity fundraising event to support the Pukekohe and Districts RSA.

The ticket-only event is one of several pre event initiatives organised in conjunction with V8 Supercars Australia to support the annual Poppy Day Appeal at this year’s ITM 500 Auckland,
24 – 27 April.

“Pukekohe welcomed home V8 Supercars last year, and it was great to be back. The V8 Supercars Drivers in the Hot Seat evening and Anzac week programme will hold special significance on both sides of the Tasman,” said V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton.

“We’re honoured to support the work of the RSA through our events, and I know many of the drivers and teams will be attending the dawn service to commemorate our fallen soldiers on Anzac Day.”

The V8 Supercars Drivers in the Hot Seat evening will be hosted by Kiwi Motorsport legend Greg Murphy at the Pukekohe and Districts RSA on Wednesday, 23 April from 6pm.

Murphy, who will be competing at the event in the support class with V8 Supertourers, has taken on the role as Event Ambassador. He is also to front a new weekly motorsport show on Sky Television, and has also signed up as the co-driver for Holden Racing Team driver James Courtney for the V8 Supercars endurance races later in the season.

RSA Chief Executive, David Moger, considers the joint initiatives to be a way of highlighting the Anzac spirit.

“Commitment and courage are part of the Anzac values we hold at our core and it takes a lot of both to be behind the wheel at such incredible speeds,” says David Moger.

“We realise that opportunities for fans of motorsport to enjoy a quiet drink and hear first-hand from the drivers don’t come along that often, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from V8 Supercars and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development.”

The drivers on show at Pukekohe all have outstanding credentials in the sport.

Coulthard, who drives for Lockwood Racing Holden, finished sixth in his best season in 2013 with six wins – three of them at Tasmania and Texas and three in the non-championship round at the Formula One Grand Prix meet.

Mostert, the 2010 Australian Formula Ford champion, stormed onto the scene as a replacement driver midway through last season, gaining a memorable race win on the Gold Coast and has now graduated to the Ford Performance Racing factory team this year.

Davison, a third generation of family motorsport stars, was third in the championship in 2013 with two wins and six podiums – and this year moves to the Erebus Racing team behind the week of a Mercedes-Benz AMG E63.

Caruso has also progressed with success in karts and Formula Ford to V8 Supercars and on to Nissan Motorsport last year, involved in the historic one-two finish at Winton for the new addition to the sport last year.

Tickets to the V8 Supercars Drivers in the Hot Seat evening are strictly limited and available from Ticketek.co.nz. All proceeds will go to the RSA and support New Zealand’s returned and ex-service men and women.

V8 Supercars made a successful return to Pukekohe last year with over 100,000 patrons attending across the three days. Independent economic consultants, Covec, reported a regional impact of $7.5 million into the economy including over 36,000 visitor nights.

New Zealand is the fourth stop on the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship calendar following the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, Tyrepower Tasmania 400 and Winton 400.

ENDS

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