Motorsport: TKR look to future after licence sold off

NZPA

3 May, 2009 08:27 PM2 mins to read

Team Kiwi Racing's V8 Supercar licence has been sold to the family of former driver Dean Fiore. Photo / Getty Images

Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) have gone back to the future after their licence to race in the Australian V8 Supercar series was sold to the family of former driver, Dean Fiore.

TKR's black Paul Morris-prepared Commodore is competing under the Fiore family's Triple F Racing colours at this weekend's third round at Winton with Fiore at the wheel, the Supercar website said.

Fiore drove the first two rounds of the Supercar championship at Adelaide and Hamilton for TKR.

With TKR owner David John made personally bankrupt, V8 Supercars this week sold the team's Racing Entitlement Contract with Triple F racing winning the tender, reportedly worth A$1 million ($1.3 million).

Without referring to the loss of the licence, TKR said on its website today it will focus more time and resources back on their founding principals of supporting Kiwi drivers from karting up to the NZV8 championship.

TKR are also looking at being involved in dirt track racing, boating and motorcycle racing for the 2009/10 seasons.

TKR, with John at the helm have, for the past 10 years, provided New Zealand drivers with the chance to compete in the Australian V8 Supercar championship.

John gave V8 Supercar starts to New Zealand talent such as Jason Richards, Shane van Gisbergen and Fabian Coulthard who moved on to other teams and are all currently running inside the top 10 of the championship.

"There are so many talented drivers who just struggle to get the funding together to secure a drive these days both in the local NZ series as-well as the Australian V8 Supercar Championship," John said.

"We have held a number of discussions with various drivers and teams over the last few months with the view of announcing the various TKR packages from the junior karting, senior karting, Formula Ford, Formula Toyota and the Mini Challenge series for the coming 2009/10 New Zealand Motorpsort Championship seasons."

- NZPA