It’s all on this weekend at the Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Ruapuna when the stars of the Clipsal 500 take on the rest of New Zealand’s best V8 drivers in the second round of the BNT V8 SuperTourer series – the Mike Pero Need for Speed event in Christchurch.
Clipsal 500 winner – and a dominant winner at that – Shane van Gisbergen, will take on reigning V8ST champ and another young ace to star in Adelaide, Scott McLaughlin as well as SuperTourer round one winner Greg Murphy, Andy Booth, John McIntyre, Craig Baird, Ant Pedersen, Dominic Storey and the rest of the 20 car field.
Local drivers Eddie Bell and Richard Moore provide interest for Christchurch fans, Moore particularly having enjoyed a great start to his 2013 season as part of the M3 Racing set-up which also runs Murphy and Paul Manuell.
All eyes will be on van Gisbergen, however, the controversial young Kiwi having done his talking on the track at the weekend with two pole positions and a fantastic overall victory in Sunday’s feature race.
“Shane looked very good on his V8ST debut at Hampton Downs, getting quicker and quicker until the final race when he grabbed a second place,” said BNT V8 SuperTourer CEO Ray Noonan.
“At Adelaide he looked fast from the start and just got better and better. That was a fine win for him and we’re very excited that his next race is going to be a SuperTourer one. Like Scott McLaughlin, he’s clearly on top of his game at the moment and this will add extra interest to what is already shaping up to be a fantastic event. I’m a motorsport fan, but picking a winner for this one is as tough as it gets.”
With the support of Mike Pero, the SuperTourer circus has opened its doors on Saturday for the region’s schoolchildren, who can all come with their parents for free to sample top line NZ motorsport. Over 700 family passes have so far been requested.
The action kicks off at the Powerbuilt Tools Raceway on Saturday morning with UDC NZ V8 Utes, Suzukis and classes for four cylinder and open saloons on the support bill to the SuperTourers. Two sessions of practice will be followed by SuperTourer qualifying on Saturday afternoon and there will be three races on a packed Sunday at the track.
Tickets can be ordered in advance from www.tickepros.co.nz but will also be available on the gate on Saturday and Sunday.
