KEY POINTS:
A unique opportunity to race in front of thousands of enthusiastic motor racing fans awaits more than 120 New Zealand drivers as they prepare for this weekend's first New Zealand round of the A1 World Cup of Motorsport in Taupo.
Not only does this event offer an opportunity for New Zealand to host a round of a world series, it's an awesome opportunity for our domestic classes to shine, says Steven Kennedy, president of MotorSport New Zealand.
The A1GP field will be the star attraction with the brightest spotlight focused on New Zealand's A1 Team.NZL. In support, six highly competitive New Zealand race classes fill the four-day race-card.
The six New Zealand classes are: Parker ENZED NZV8s, Toyota Racing Series, Porsche GT3 Cup, Formula Ford, Production Racing Series, and the Mini Challenge.
"It's a bit like when the World Rally Championship heads to New Zealand," says Kennedy. "It brings profile and the viewing audiences' attention to New Zealand. That's really something money can't buy.
"While we recognise our domestic categories won't be on international television broadcasts, our competitors do get to drive in front of, and are seen by, a number of international players, different teams, team managers, team bosses and other wealthy people who are in the country. You never know, there might be the odd talent scout here having a wee look.
"It's another opportunity for our competitors, a bit like the New Zealand round of the Australian V8 Supercar championship, to be on the world stage and I think that it's something, as a sport, we need to encourage actively."
Kennedy continues: "Elsewhere, particularly in Australia, with the way Supercars dictate the calendar over there, they've strangled all the good support categories away from A1GP.
"We have allowed A1GP to compete in our country with what Colin Giltrap has described as probably some of the finest support races in the world.
"Those were his words, based on what he has seen at all the events he attended last year. There were no other A1GP events with domestic classes as highly rated as those we have lined up."
With 30 cars on the starting grid, the NZV8s have by far the largest field competing. "It's always exciting to compete in front of a big, enthusiastic crowd," says John McIntyre, the leading New Zealander in the NZV8s.
"With the event in Taupo being so close to our Hawkes Bay home base, we are looking forward to a good showing in front of a lot of NZV8 fans."
McIntyre holds second place in the series behind fellow Ford driver Australian David Besnard as the field contests the third round of its seven-round 2006-07 championship.
Other NZV8 drivers to watch include third placed Angus Fogg in a Ford, and defending champion Kayne Scott, who talked of changing to a Ford for this event, but continues to compete in his Holden.
Also, former champion Paul Manuell debuts a new Holden, aiming to challenge Ford's dominance of this year's series.
Scott and Manuell are the only Holden drivers in the top 10. The other eight places are held by Fords.
Toyota drivers are looking to demonstrate talent. "Everyone loves to race in front of a big crowd," agrees Barrie Thomlinson, who manages the Toyota Racing Series. "This event steps it up and I'm sure all our drivers see this as a key opportunity to showcase themselves."
The Toyota series has already been identified as a potential feeder series for A1GP.
The A1 Team.NZL junior development team was formed last year under the patronage of New Zealand's A1GP supremo Colin Giltrap. This season, the squad fields two talented drivers, Daniel Gaunt and Shane Van Gisbergen, but other regular Toyota series front-runners Andy Knight and Ben Harford know their performances will also be keenly observed.
Twenty Porsche GT3 Cup cars take to the track for the A1GP round of their seven round championship, the biggest field all season.
Some of New Zealand's finest professional racing drivers star in this worldwide, one-car class, among them Craig Baird, Fabian Coulthard and Matt Halliday.
Laying down the gauntlet to the dominant Kiwi trio for the first time is top Australian Porsche GT3 Cup driver Alex Davison.
