Motorsport: Supercar hopes rumble on

Wellington's bid to host a round of the Australian Supercar V8 series in 2007 has been backed by promoters Avesco.

Wellington City Council yesterday pulled the plug on plans to stage the event next year after deciding it could not support the original race route.

Avesco chairman Tony Cochrane said: "We respect the decision of Wellington City Council to delay their plan to hold a street race in the New Zealand capital until 2007.

"I have every faith in mayor Kerry Prendergast and her councillors to ensure that in 2007 we will be able to begin a seven-year agreement to stage the race in Wellington."

Avesco's current arrangement with the New Zealand promoter had expired and it needs to find a new promoter for next year's round.

"We are faced with two decisions," said Cochrane. "The first is whether we race in New Zealand in 2006 and, if so, to find a suitable venue that meets our needs in the interim.

"As our contract has also expired with our current promoter in New Zealand, a new promoter must be established. This promoter will manage the interim 2006 event and also the Wellington street race."

Avesco said the 2006 venue might be Pukekohe, or another track to which Avesco could fly cars and equipment.

Cochrane stressed: "We will not turn our backs on New Zealand and will not walk away from our massive support base in the country easily."

The Avesco board is set to meet on May 17 where we will discuss the situation and possible alternatives for 2006. Cochrane said Avesco had been overwhelmed by the incredible response from the public of Wellington. "This and the council's strong support has convinced us Wellington is the place for our future in New Zealand."

He said Avesco had been involved in discussions about relocating the circuit from the original location. "We understand the issues in Wellington and in the sprit of co-operation we will work through these with council."

Wellington City Council's announcement followed concerns over the commercial viability of the proposed race track.

Consultation documents show the original track running along Jervois and Customhouse quays and back down Featherston St, a route which would have allowed the race to go ahead without resource consent.

Street races in the central business district are a permitted activity in the district plan. But Prendergast said development of the area, including plans to turn part into a Southern Hemisphere-style Champs Elysees, with a boulevard of pohutukawa, would have clashed with Avesco's needs, and the council had been forced to come up with an alternative course.

But parts of the proposed new stadium circuit, through the industrial area to the north of the railway station, past Westpac Stadium and back along Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road to the Picton ferry terminal, needed resource consent.

Councillors will be asked to consider a new proposal, to hold the series in Wellington from 2007 subject to consent, this month.

- NZPA