The new North Island Endurance Series has today confirmed global automotive manufacturer Mahindra as the title sponsor for the inaugural three round series which takes place this year.

The sponsorship is the first for Mahindra in New Zealand, although the company is a major sponsor in NASCAR and Moto GP amongst its motorsport projects, and has its own team in the forthcoming Formula E series – a global championship around city-based street circuits for electric powered single seater racing cars that will go from standstill to 100kph in approximately 3 seconds. As well as having title sponsorship of the new endurance series and a presence at each of the three events, Mahindra will also provide the official safety car for the events.

The Mahindra North Island Endurance Series dates are the 6th and 7th of June at Pukekohe, the 5th and 6th of July at Taupo and 25th and 26th of July at Hampton Downs.

The sponsorship of the endurance series by a brand fresh to New Zealand is welcome news for organisers. “Even though everyone involved in the new series has experience of running and promoting motorsport events, we all know how difficult it is for any level of the sport to secure worthwhile sponsorship these days,” explained series board member Kel McBeath. “Mahindra want to be involved with the series right from the outset and are as enthusiastic as the organisers about making it a success. We couldn’t ask for a better and more willing partner.”

The Taupo round will include a 1 hour and 3 hour race, while the Hampton Downs and Pukekohe events will include 1, 3 and 6 hour races. Class 1 will be for vehicles powered by engines of 3501cc and over, Class 2 for engines between 2001cc and 3500cc, Class 3 1601cc to 2000cc and Class 4 up to 1600cc. There will also be a GT class for the more exotic cars. Equivalence factors will be Forced Induction x 1.7 and Rotary Engine x 1.8.

A brand recently new to New Zealand, the Indian-owned Mahindra operation nonetheless has a long history involved in many aspects of the automotive industry. It was founded in 1945 as steel trading company and entered automotive manufacturing in 1947 with the iconic Willies Jeep. Today the company spans 18 key industries including Aerospace, Agribusiness, Automotive, Components, Construction Equipment, Defence Vehicles, Energy, Farm Equipment, Finance, Industrial Equipment, I.T. and Logistics to name just a few.  Mahindra employees 180,000 employees in over 100 countries across the globe and has an annual turnover in excess of US$16.2 billion. Today, its focus is utility, light commercial and passenger vehicles.”