Hot in the city of V8s

It wasn't just the cars turning spectators' heads in Hamilton. Photo / Jason Dorday

A sellout crowd of 50,000 petrolheads flocked to Hamilton Stadium on Saturday as the city's V8 Supercar circus clicked into top gear.

After Friday's practice sessions, Ford driver Jamie Whincup won the first of two championship rounds over a 3.4km circuit of the city's streets, setting a new lap record in the process.

He became only the second Ford driver to win a V8 race in New Zealand.

The best of the five-strong Kiwi contingent was Fabian Coulthard, who started 21st finished sixth. There was less success for fan favourite Greg Murphy whose race ended when he hit a wall after six laps.

Larger stands ensured spectators obtained a better view than last year, when some complained last year they couldn't see the course.

Others lay on the grass in Hinemoa Park to watch the action on the big screen.

Despite the influx of fans, Hamilton police reported fewer arrests than a normal Friday night.

Operational commander Paul Carpenter said the V8 crowd tended to be older and stopped drinking earlier than the city's usual younger crowd.

Most of the arrests were for breaching the liquor ban, fighting and disorderly behaviour. Fans were well-behaved yesterday, content to crowd around pitlanes hoping for a glimpse of their heroes.

But if racing was the beast, another corner of the course hosted the beauty, in the form of the Samsung Miss Hamilton 400 competition. Long-legged contestants strutted in front of a crowd of several hundred supporters.

As well, grid girls Karla Tarr and Karina Nisbet were delighting the fans by handing out free hats to anyone wearing a Citizen watch.

And the Big Ben Grid Girls, in their short black skirts and cowboy hats, pleased firefighters when they donned their yellow uniforms and hats.

It's the second time the city has hosted a round of the V8 championship and the weekend is predicted to inject $20m into the region's economy.

The sex industry was one of many to cash in, with one escort agency bringing in eight extra women to cope with the arrival of fans.

Graeme, of Platinum Escorts, advertised in newspapers in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty for escorts to work at the V8s and received more than 50 responses.

- Alice Neville