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NZTC
Championship 2001/02
PRESS
RELEASE #1
17th May 2001
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SOLID
SUPPORT FOR SUPER PRODUCTION RULES IN NEW ZEALAND 2.0 litre TOURING
CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
With
Teams consolidating their construction plans for this years NZTC
Championship, there is strong support amongst them for the introduction
of the FIA homologated super production rules (261) as the basis
for car construction in New Zealand's Premiere Motorsport Class.
"We've
had a fantastic run with the New Zealand Schedule S regulations,
but its time to update the cars and the regulations which govern
them so they meet the needs of the new millineum." said NZTC
President Geoff Short. "Adoption of the Super Production
rules would provide a clear upgrade path for the class, allowing
teams to begin construction of cars in earnest for the 2001/02
season".
Many team
owners believe that adoption of Super Production would provide
an opportunity for encouraging international competition and confirm
the class's status as the most sophisticated championship in the
New Zealand Motor Racing Calendar. Short is visiting Germany,
Italy and England in June on a fact finding tour to gauge the
support of European Teams for participation in the New Zealand
Championship.
If Super Production
cars are constructed, using what is essentially a base car, New
Zealand teams wishing to compete outside New Zealand should be
able to adapt their cars to European tracks in a predicable way,
while European teams interested in racing in New Zealand, could
easily adapt their cars to New Zealand conditions.
"It also
has the advantage of sourcing cars that have already been built
in Europe as well as providing the flexibility of New Zealand
based construction. With the rate of car turnover in Europe higher
than New Zealand, European teams are enthusiastic to find buyers
for surplus vehicles Down Under. This should make buying newer
cars, and the filter down effect of older cars more cost effective
for the New Zealand 2.0 litre class." enthused Short.
It would seem
that the Touring Car Association of New Zealand would like to
see current Schedule S cars have the option of continuing to run
under the current Schedule S rules without modification or modify
the car to the Super Production standards while allowing them
exemptions to reduce the cost of this conversion and to simplify
construction.
With ratification
of the rules for the New Zealand Touring Class by the Motorsport
New Zealand Technical Committee, a raft of new models look set
to grace the Motor Racing stage in 2001.
For more information
contact:
Tony Bunyan
New Zealand Touring Car Website
Email editor@nztouringcars.co.nz
Website www.nztouringcars.co.nz
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