Motorsport promoter Speed Works Events has released details of line ups for its two South Island race meetings which kick off 2022 – and there will be a big focus on GT race cars and getting South Island racers back on track.
Speed Works has been working closely with Highlands Motorsport Park and Mike Pero Motorsport Park management to ensure the meetings go ahead during Covid restrictions and have opened up the doors to GT, V8 and production race car owners and drivers.
“We’ve had to have a rethink and at very short notice but we are committed to making these events as attractive as possible for fans and drivers and it’s been great to have the support of the circuits in that process,” said Speed Works’ Geoff Short.
“With Covid restrictions having affected the original line-ups we wanted to create an opportunity for competitors on the South Island to take part in a high profile motorsport meeting. GT racing is where it’s at globally at the moment and we’ve added an open GT category to complement the Super GT field that will be making its debut. There’s also a V8 muscle class and a production based class.
“It would be great to see those grids well supported by South Island competitors,” added Short.
“Having that support is obviously going to be very important for the success of event in the South Island where national classes make the trip south for championship meetings. Covid prevented us from going to the South Island last season and coming back again every year with championship classes was and remains a priority.”
A full grid of the new Rodin Cars Super GT category is locked in for both meetings, along with the biggest ever field of Toyota 86 cars with 22 lined up for round one and two of a championship that will see the winner heading to Australia for a test in a Triple Eight Race Engineering V8 Supercar, the top prize in a $175,000 prize package. Also locked in for both events are the racers from the NEXEN Tyre Mazda Racing Series.
The three new grids offer plenty of opportunity for drivers to get significant lap time at two of New Zealand’s finest tracks.
With interest in GTs currently surging, Speed Works has already confirmed the Carters Brabham BT62 and Lance Hughes’ Nissan GTR for the Open GT class. The GTs will have two test sessions on each Friday, with qualifying and a thirty minute race on the Saturdays along with a 30 minute and one hour race on the Sunday of each event. Any Schedule A car is eligible.
The V8 Muscle class will also run at both meetings, again with two Friday test sessions and a Saturday morning qualifying session but with four races for fans and drivers to look forward to. Any Schedule A compliant V8 powered car – such as ex-NZV8 touring cars, muscle cars,
SuperTourers, TL, TLX and re-powered cars with V8s are eligible to race.
The Production Club class will appeal to owners of cars like Hondas, Minis, Suzukis, older Mazda RX7s, Subarus and Toyotas amongst others. The must be production based and Schedule A compliant. Entrants will also get two test sessions, one qualifying session and four races each weekend.
The action doesn’t stop there. At Highlands, the anything goes OSCA field will be a thriller as it joins the party for the third round of its championship while the spectacular Porsches and BMWs and Porsches of Rennsport will be out in force at their South Island spiritual home.
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