V8SuperTourers secure TV3 broadcast deal

V8SUPERTOURERS LTD
Media statement
6 August 2011

V8SuperTourers secure TV3 broadcast deal

The new V8SuperTourer racing series gathers further momentum with news that full coverage of each of the seven V8SuperTourer rounds will screen exclusively on TV3’s Gillette Motorsport show in 2012.

The exclusive broadcast package ensures the inaugural season of V8SuperTourer racing will be free-to-air via the popular motorsport show on TV3 nationwide.

John McIntyre, spokesperson for New Zealand ’s newest V8 racing series, says the exclusive coverage allows fans of the new ‘V8 Series of Champions’ to see all the race action on the Sunday of each round. Another significant move is that the third race of each of the four sprint rounds and the main race of each of the three endurance rounds will screen live during the show’s prime 2pm to 5pm slot.

“We have been working on a suitable package since April this year, so it’s very pleasing to have signed with TV3, which has truly established itself as New Zealand’s ‘home of motorsport’,” says McIntyre who is also one of the V8SuperTourer team owners and drivers, and a three-time New Zealand V8 touring car champion.

“It’s tremendously exciting to now be working with the Gillette Motorsport team to put this broadcast package together. Our teams’ sponsors and the series’ sponsors will benefit greatly from the exclusive element of our broadcast with a minimum of three commercial hours being screened from each of the seven rounds of our first season of V8SuperTourer racing.”

From each of the four sprint rounds, Gillette Motorsport will provide delayed coverage of race one from Saturday and race two on Sunday, before screening the weekend’s third and final race live.

From each of the three endurance rounds, which feature one main race on Sunday, the entire race will screen live.

Gillette Motorsport host and TV3’s motorsport reporter Shaun Summerfield says he’s just as excited as the V8SuperTourer drivers to have the new series feature on the show in 2012.

“The V8SuperTourers add another dynamic racing series to our existing local line-up,” says Summerfield. “To have so many talented drivers in the new series means we know we’re going to get some brilliant racing to enjoy throughout their first-ever season.”

McIntyre adds: “ Shaun Summerfield and the Gillette Motorsport team will also make sure fans can enjoy lots of behind-the-scenes detail of all 16 drivers, teams and the technical aspects of the cars from our inaugural season.”

The confirmed competitors in the seven round 2012 V8SuperTourers series are: Greg Murphy (Melbourne), John McIntyre (Nelson), Andy Booth (North Shore, Auckland), Paul Manuell (Pukekohe), Kayne Scott (Hamilton), Craig Baird, MNZM, (Gold Coast), Andre Heimgartner (Howick, Auckland), Ant Pedersen (Hamilton), Andy Knight (Christchurch), Eddie Bell (Christchurch), Daniel Gaunt (Melbourne), Scott McLaughlin (Gold Coast), Colin Corkery (North Shore) and Richard Moore (Auckland).

After hundreds of fans turned out to buy tickets and meet many of the V8SuperTourer drivers at July’s CRC Speedshow in Auckland, teams are now looking forward to the upcoming months of race car construction and testing before racing gets underway at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the weekend of 17 to 19 February. Further sprint rounds are run at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch at the end of March, at Manfeild in Feilding in late April and then back at Hampton Downs in late May. Each of the sprint rounds features a sprint race on Saturday and two sprint races on Sunday. Three endurance rounds take the teams to Taupo Motorsport Park , Hampton Downs and back to Christchurch ’s Powerbuilt Tools Raceway , with an overall V8SuperTourer champion being declared from the two-part series.

Further details can be found on the V8SuperTourers website http://www.v8supertourers.co.nz.
ENDS/

2012 V8SuperTourer Calendar
Sprint Championship
Round 1: 17-19 February – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, North Waikato
Round 2: 30 March – 1 April – Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Christchurch
Round 3: 27-29 April – Manfeild, Fielding
Round 4: 18-20 May – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park , North Waikato
Endurance Championship
Round 5: 10-12 August – Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Round 6: 21-23 September – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, North Waikato
Round 7: 26-28 October – Final, Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Christchurch
Note: All dates subject to change on confirmation of V8Supercar Championship calendar.

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