Jason Bargwanna's TLX competed in the NZV8 series.
Jason Bargwanna's TLX competed in the NZV8 series.
Drivers, sponsors and fans are confused, says MotorSport NZ
Winding up our series on V8 racing in this country, MotorSport NZ general manager Brian Budd is emphatic about the national body's view.
"Motorsport New Zealand's position is that there can only be one V8 championship," Budd said.
"Currently there are two factions. We've spoken to V8 SuperTourers and NZV8 Touring Cars and the two have spoken to each other.
"There have been a number of suggestions put forward to get back to one class and the trick is to get something both parties can agree to. SuperTourers have indicated that the TLX cars can run off the same grid but there are conditions to that happening."
For example, the TLX cars (the new-generation NZV8 racers) would have to be fitted with 7-litre engines, the same gearboxes and tyres as SuperTourers.
"I don't believe it has to go to that extent," Budd said. "I believe you can achieve parity without having all the cars exactly the same - but I'm no expert. Whatever way it goes there's going to have to be some compromise on either side."
The SuperTourer model was commercial, a brand that franchise-holders have bought into and may not want confused with the introduction of another type of car.
"From a sport point of view we want the two factions to come back together again for the benefit of the fans, drivers, and sponsors. At the moment they're all totally confused with what's going on. From the outside it might seem like an easy fix but it's going to take some real compromise from both parties.
"If you go back and look at how this happened there were some personality clashes and issues within the existing NZV8 category and the board members who went to SuperTourers. The issues were with them and NZV8s and TMC (The Motorsport Company, promoters of the sport, in which Motorsport NZ is a shareholder).
"To me, when you own championships it makes sense to have an interest in how they are promoted. We had an arms-length contract with TMC to promote some meetings.
"You have to remember that TMC came about because the affiliated clubs of Motorsport NZ were dissatisfied with the job independent promoters were doing. It was the clubs who asked MSNZ to set up its own company.
"It had 10 successful years and then the financial crises and the split didn't help with TMC, its operation and sponsorship. There hasn't been a promotional arm for the past two seasons and the clubs and circuits who host championship events have taken all the risk.
"We still have a small part to play in the running of the seven championship events but would love to find a promoter to take total control of all that and let us get back to governing the sport. The problem at the moment is we do not have a very exciting product to sell to a promoter."
"We have to get back to days where there was a strong V8 class and a circus to take around the country and while there's a V8 split we don't have a decent product."
It doesn't appear there'll be any reconciliation soon. Meanwhile, there are two competing race meetings this weekend within 20km of each other.
