Aucklanders Tim Edgell and Nick Chester will join the V8 SuperTourer series this weekend when it heads to the Taupo race circuit for the first of the long-distance endurance rounds.

Edgell Performance Racing are the newest team to join the inaugural V8 racing series after a successful career in the older NZV8 category, which netted race wins, fastest laps and top-three championship performances.

However, lead driver Tim Edgell is under no illusion how difficult it will be to run at the front of the V8 SuperTourer series.

“We’ve built a brand-new Holden Commodore and I can’t wait to race it for the first time at Taupo;” said Edgell

“Sure we’re going in to the first of the endurances races a little bit underdone compared to the other teams, but it’s an endurance race and we should be alright at the end.”

Edgell has only driven 50 laps in the prototype car for the V8 SuperTourer [V8ST] series before the team committed to the new series and built the Chesters Commodore.

“Neither of us has raced the car in anger yet, but at least I’ve had some laps in a car so I kind of know what to expect,” said Edgell. “Nick can’t wait to get his first laps in the car, and with his experience, I’m sure he’ll adapt to the new car pretty quickly.”

Nick Chester successfully races a modified ex-V8 Supercar in the Sports & GT category so he is no stranger to high-powered V8 race cars.

Chesters Bathroom and Plumbing have had a long-time association with Edgell’s V8 racing career and Tim says it’s great that Chesters are continuing that support, and even more special that Nick can join him in racing the new car in the endurance rounds.

“We know each other really well, the team has been together for a good while now and that helps when starting out with a new venture like the V8ST car,” said Edgell.

The brand-new Chesters Commodore will be the 20th car to join the V8ST category, which started earlier this year with a series of sprint rounds before three two-driver endurance rounds at the end of the season. This weekend’s Fathers’ Day 400 is followed by endurance rounds at Pukekohe in late October and Christchurch’s Ruapuna Raceway in November.

The format for the endurance rounds require each of the drivers to set a qualifying time to determine the grid positions for the two 60-lap races, one held on each day of the weekend. Each driver must then start a race, with the maximum distance of 39 laps allowed by any one of the drivers.

Edgell Performance Racing acknowledges and appreciates the support of the following Chesters Bathroom and Plumbing, BNT, and Fuchs (NZ) Ltd.