Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
The V8 Supercars hit Hamilton in New Zealand for the first time this weekend. Below is the press release from the supercar website.
It was back in June 2005 that the first seedlings of a Hamilton street race were born. But now only two days away, set-up for the inaugural Hamilton 400 street race in New Zealand is complete and the North Island city is rearing to host round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this weekend.
As the newest circuit on the V8 Supercar calendar, the Hamilton event is likely to boost the local economy by an estimated $20 million as more than 150,000 people are expected to descend on the Frankston business district by the time racing action starts on Friday morning.
Having already attracted positive feedback, V8 Supercars are expected to clock speeds of more than 240km/h mark around the 3.4km eight-turn circuit which in itself is a marvel in construction. Boasting 9,000 tonnes of concrete and steel in the concrete barriers and over nine kilometres of debris fencing installed, over 70,000 hours has gone into its construction including the grandstand, overpasses and amenities.
Sprint Gas Racing's Greg Murphy - who will debut a brand new VE commodore in front of a home crowd - gave it the thumbs up during a recent drive of the newly constructed circuit.
“I can't wait really,” Murphy told the media. “I've been involved since the early stages of planning and it is exciting to see it take shape. I am so impressed with everything that has been put in place. As a New Zealander you have to be proud of what's been achieved here.”
A four-time winner of the previously held Pukekohe round, Murphy will be one of six native New Zealanders in the 29-car field including teammate Jason Richards, Fabian Coulthard, Steven Richards, Shane Van Gisbergen and Kayne Scott in which both will make their first V8 Supercar start in NZ having never competed at Pukekohe.
Meanwhile, the retail district will be fully operational during the weekend for race fans to access and entry tickets will also provide access to the free concerts running on both Saturday and Sunday night in Seddon Park.
But come Sunday afternoon, the Hamilton 400 will take on a solemn note when the winner of the event - and each Hamilton 400 event to come - will not only take home round honours but the perpetual Mark Porter Memorial Trophy named in memory of the former Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver from the local Waikato region that was tragically killed in a racing accident at Bathurst in 2006.
It was back in June 2005 that the first seedlings of a Hamilton street race were born. But now only two days away, set-up for the inaugural Hamilton 400 street race in New Zealand is complete and the North Island city is rearing to host round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this weekend.
As the newest circuit on the V8 Supercar calendar, the Hamilton event is likely to boost the local economy by an estimated $20 million as more than 150,000 people are expected to descend on the Frankston business district by the time racing action starts on Friday morning.
Having already attracted positive feedback, V8 Supercars are expected to clock speeds of more than 240km/h mark around the 3.4km eight-turn circuit which in itself is a marvel in construction. Boasting 9,000 tonnes of concrete and steel in the concrete barriers and over nine kilometres of debris fencing installed, over 70,000 hours has gone into its construction including the grandstand, overpasses and amenities.
Sprint Gas Racing's Greg Murphy - who will debut a brand new VE commodore in front of a home crowd - gave it the thumbs up during a recent drive of the newly constructed circuit.
“I can't wait really,” Murphy told the media. “I've been involved since the early stages of planning and it is exciting to see it take shape. I am so impressed with everything that has been put in place. As a New Zealander you have to be proud of what's been achieved here.”
A four-time winner of the previously held Pukekohe round, Murphy will be one of six native New Zealanders in the 29-car field including teammate Jason Richards, Fabian Coulthard, Steven Richards, Shane Van Gisbergen and Kayne Scott in which both will make their first V8 Supercar start in NZ having never competed at Pukekohe.
Meanwhile, the retail district will be fully operational during the weekend for race fans to access and entry tickets will also provide access to the free concerts running on both Saturday and Sunday night in Seddon Park.
But come Sunday afternoon, the Hamilton 400 will take on a solemn note when the winner of the event - and each Hamilton 400 event to come - will not only take home round honours but the perpetual Mark Porter Memorial Trophy named in memory of the former Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver from the local Waikato region that was tragically killed in a racing accident at Bathurst in 2006.