Crackdown on V8 driving standards

Media release from V8 SuperTourers

Wednesday 25 September

Crackdown on V8 driving standards

New Zealand’s BNT V8 SuperTourers championship is introducing stiffer penalties for misbehaving drivers in a push to improve driving standards and reduce the number of collisions.

The new regime begins with the Waikato 400 endurance event at Hampton Downs this weekend and the controlling body, MotorSport New Zealand, will supply more senior officials to help police the events.

Dangerous or careless driving that causes a collision, or was likely to cause such an incident, will now be punished by exclusion from the race or qualifying session. As well, dangerous driving will result in a loss of 300 championship points and a fine of $3000, while careless driving will cost 200 points and $2000.

“This move is in response to criticism we’ve received from teams,” V8 SuperTourers chairman Ray Noonan said.

“We are trying to raise the bar, to set higher standards, and to reduce costs for the teams [in terms of crash repairs]. This championship has to be sustainable for the teams, and we take that very very seriously.

“I’ll be spelling all this out at the drivers’ meeting on Saturday morning and I’ll be making it very clear that we are putting the focus on driving standards, and it’s not just a one-off.”

The changes are spelt out in a bulletin issued by MotorSport NZ after discussions with SuperTourers. Punishments for lesser infringements include drive-through penalties and time penalties.

At the rolling starts drivers will not be allowed to break their two-wide formation till they have crossed the start line.

Driving standards in the series recently came under fire from Wayne McLaughlin, whose son Scott won the championship last year but this season stands only ninth, mainly as the result of collisions that were not his fault.

ENDS

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