The trial unification of the V8 SuperTourers and New Zealand Touring Cars at the United V8 Spectacular in Pukekohe at the weekend has been lauded as a resounding success.
In the season finale of the SuperTourer, TLX and TL classes, 20 drivers across the three categories lined up side-by-side for the first time since the organisations split in 2012.
With championship points on the line, there was plenty of action as drivers battled it out for their respective titles.
Simon Evans took out the SuperTourers’ title despite not winning a race.
The 24-year-old, who has already turned his attentions to the V8 Dunlop Development series in Australia where he will compete for Super Black Racing, was ecstatic to win the title previously held by V8 Supercar driver Scott McLaughlin and racing legend Greg Murphy.
“It is a massive confidence boost,” he said.
“Obviously, Murphy is a big icon and McLauglin is doing pretty solid in Australia so if I can track on like them, I will be very happy.”
Series runner-up Andre Heimgartner won races one and three while Australian competitor Tony D’Alberto won race two.
Jason Bargwanna secured the TLX series title with a race win. Nick Ross won the other two races.
“The team have worked very hard for this and deserved it, they did all the hard work while all I had to do was steer the car,” Bargwanna said.
“I think we deserved it last year so I’m really pleased about getting it this time around.”Kelvin Williams dominated the TL class, as he has for much of the season, to take out the title with three race wins from three.
For many, the weekend was about more than the driver’s championships, with particular interest in how the SuperTourers and Touring Cars’, at times, tumultuous relationship played out on the track.
But New Zealand Touring Cars director Ian Booth could not have been happier with the weekend.
“It was very very very successful and not a negative word was spoken,” he said.
His view of the weekend was shared by SuperTourers’ Team4 owner Owen Evans.
“There was a really good buzz in the field and a good atmosphere,” he said. “Everyone realises that motorsport has been going downhill for a while and this has been a real positive boost.
“I watched the first race from up in the tower and to see 20 cars on the grid was really good.”
He believed it was important that all parties come together during the off-season to ensure the merger goes smoothly.
“I view it that it was the honeymoon on the weekend and now we have got to do a prenuptial between the classes and get married,” he said.
“Everyone appears to be on the right page, everyone appears to be eager and as long as everyone leaves egos and their own personal agendas off the table, it will be sorted.
“Every time we ask ourselves a question about the class, we need to ask: Is it good or bad for New Zealand Motorsport? If we answer that question truthfully, I think we can move forward a lot better.’Simon Evans said he enjoyed having the TLX and TL cars on the track.
“I think it went better than everyone anticipated,” he said.
“Everyone thought it would be quite interesting with the lap traffic and that it could make or break the race, in one race it cost me but I thought it was quite good.”
With the 2014/15 season wrapped up, Booth said he “could not wait” for the next one to start.
“Moving forward, we will keep the TLX and SuperTourers as one class but we will keep the TLs on the one grid for big numbers.”
The TLX and SuperTourers’ merger is expected to be completed in time for next season with the first meeting to coincide with the V8 Supercars’ return to Pukekohe on November 6.
