Motorsport: Ute champ ready to face nation's finest

The V8 Utes launched in New Zealand four years ago. Photo / Supplied

Now in its third season and four years since the V8 Utes launched in New Zealand, the Kiwi drivers face their biggest challenge in the Trans Tasman Challenge on the streets of Hamilton.

The best from Australia are crossing the Tasman for the only international challenge clash in this door-banging, super-popular V8 Ute racing in the country.

The Trans Tasman Challenge is a pure clash of Aussie versus Kiwi in 275 kilowatts of V8 Ute grunt and could easy turn into the Bledisloe Cup of motor racing.

Defending Trans Tasman Champion Charlie 'Handlebars' Kovacs is keen to defend his title at the ITM400 - and reckons the Australians will again dominate.

Kovacs recently drove with his son Charlie jnr in the co-driver Ten Years of Legends Race at Clipsal 500 and has competed in almost every V8 Ute race event since the series launch in 2001.

He is celebrating his 10th year with the series and believes a win against the Kiwis will really top it off.

"Most definitely [it will top it off], I'm excited about defending my international title. I really enjoy New Zealand, it's a great place with great people and I really enjoyed racing there in the past years," said Kovacs.

Backed by Wilson Security, Kovacs has already had some recent practice against a few of the Kiwi drivers including ENZED V8 Ute champions Chris Pither and Matt Lockwood at the Clipsal 500.

"Yes Chris was a competent Ute racer in Australia and on home soil I reckon he will be a force to be reckoned with. But we will definitely give him a run for his money," said Kovacs.

Other confirmed Aussie drivers to race include; Kim "The Assassin" Jane, George "Hollywood" Elliot, Warren "Wakeup" Millet, "Captain" Robert Jarvis, Craig "Thirsty" Dontas and Queensland's Greg "Freddy" Willis who is looking forward to taking on the Kiwis.

"Having spent some time in NZ during my impressionable youth I always love an opportunity to play with the Kiwis. It was great racing with them in 2006 but will be better racing against them this time," said Willis.

The V8 Ute Trans Tasman Challenge will include two practice sessions, one qualifying session and a three-race test match series during the three-day event.

On the New Zealand front, the championship was wrapped up in Timaru last month before the Kiwi drivers turned their attention from bashing each other, to dealing to the Australians.

The championship has a new star driver in the form of Pither - a Kiwi exported from the Australian series.

After dominating the opening two rounds late last year, Pither increased his lead in February in their first outing at the new Hampton Downs circuit.

Pither, called in to race in the V8 touring car series in the weeks preceding, was again on top but was pushed all the way by Caine Lobb.

He followed this up with another dominant display in Christchurch before the New Zealanders looked to finish their series in Timaru.

"There's tremendous interest in the Trans Tasman Challenge.

"We have all of the drivers super-keen to take on the Australians, and also to have the opportunity to race on this great street circuit in Hamilton. It is going to be unreal action.

"Better buckle in and enjoy the action," said V8 Ute New Zealand promoter Jamie Kett.