V8 SuperTourers has announced a revised calendar for its second season in 2013.

“The temporary loss of Pukekohe as an alternative Auckland race event until the second quarter of next year has created some real challenges for our 2013 calendar”, said Mark Petch, Managing Director of V8 SuperTourers.

“All of the four North Island circuits have bookings as far as 12 months out, so it’s very difficult for us to find weekend dates that don’t clash with the Australian Supercars race dates,” said Petch. “We have a commitment to our teams that our calendar will not clash with any Australian V8 Supercar dates, in order to continue to attract ‘Main Game’ V8SC drivers, such as our own Greg Murphy, and Jonathan Webb and Steve Owen who drove this year. Next year we will also have our own inaugural V8ST Champion, Scott McLaughlin doing double duty as will be Steve Owen and Greg Murphy, at both Bathurst and Phillip Island.”

“Due to a V8SC date clash, we lost our planned 2013 Manfeild event” said Petch. “It’s a shame but when you are told that we have to make decisions 12 months out, we are always going to have potential conflict in available dates.”

“We will still have seven race meetings in 2013” said Petch. “Three will feature our new one day sprint racing format while the remaining four events will be based on our now proven double-handed race format. Having two drivers over longer distances gives the spectators more bang for their buck and also allows our teams to bring in either name drivers or, alternatively, give deserving co-drivers a chance to star.”

“Whilst we have all the race dates locked and loaded for next year, commercially, we are yet to sign off with two circuits at this point in time. We expect to conclude these negations by mid-January, which still leaves sufficient time for our teams to make travel arrangements,” said Petch.

The Calendar for 2013 is:

16/17 February 2013 Sprint race event, at Hampton Downs.
9/10 March 2013 Sprint race event, at a circuit to be advised.
25/26 May 2013 Sprint Race event, at Pukekohe Park.
1st September 2013 Father’s Day 400, at Taupo.
19/20 October 2013 Ice Breaker at Hampton Downs.
9/10 November 2013 South Island Spring Festival, at a circuit to be advised.
7/8 December 2013 Pukekohe 500 at Pukekohe Park.