27 June 2008

ANOTHER ACTION  PACKED SEASON AHEAD FOR TIMARU INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY

Four months out from the opening round of the season, the South Canterbury Car Club, owners and operators of Timaru International Motor Raceway, are already full bore  planning and preparing for their 2008 - 2009 major race events.

Saturday 18th October 2008 will see the opening meeting of the season with a great range of classes all rearing to go after their winter hiatus.  Everything from the mighty OSCA cars to the very fast Sports Saloons, the nimble Formula Fords to the marque classes of Mini 7, Pro 7 and Super 6 Saloons and of course the huge variety of vehicles that is Pre 65.
The October event is a one day affair and with such a variety of classes promises to be an action packed event.

A shift back to their traditional month will see the NZV8 event moving back into January.  The event set down for 9th – 11th January 2009 will feature not only the awesome NZV8’s but also Porsche GT3, Toyota Racing Series, Mini Challenge, Production Racing and NZ Formula Ford.  Another huge change for this event will be the return of the Super Trucks back into this meeting.  Motorsport Manager of Timaru International Motor Raceway, Karen Paddon, comments that “it will be awesome to have what has proven to be our two most popular classes, NZV8’s and Trucks, running together again at one event.” 

The reputation that Timaru has built up as the “Home of Truck Racing” continues at the March race event where Super Trucks will be back again to contest what will their Grand Finale of the season. The meeting from 13th – 15th March 2009 will also feature the very popular NZV8 Ute Racing.  This class has been showing real growth and category manager, Jamie Kett, commented “NZ V8 Ute Racing are expecting 26+ utes to line up on the starting grid at Timaru next March.”  Add to these two classes, three North/South Challenge events for OSCA, Pro 7 and Pre 65 plus a field of Sports Saloons and Super 6 Saloons combined with Mini 7 and this is shaping up to be one fantastic race meeting. 

Saturday 28th March 2009 will see an earlier end to the season than usual for Timaru International Motor Raceway with the running of the 3 Hour South Island Endurance Series Race. 
Last season 31 cars started the 3 hour race with one of the best assortments of racing machinery seen for many years - from Porsche GT3s to an ex Australian V8 Supercar, a Corvette, Subaru WRXs, Corollas and everything in between.  Fields of Mini 7/Pro 7 and South Island Formula Ford complete the package for this one day race event.

Bookings for marquee and curtain-sider sites, which are a very popular and enjoyable way of viewing the racing, are being taken now by contacting Kevin Ryan on 0275 714 073.

Add into the mix National Championship Motorcycle Racing mid January and the very popular Classic Racing event on 13 – 15 February and Timaru International Motor Raceway is certainly the place to be again in 2009.

Karen Paddon
For and on behalf of South Canterbury Car Club Inc
Phone 027 273 1671.

ENDS.