Pukekohe could be contender for night race
The New Zealand round of the Supercars Championship could potentially become a night event in the future.
Last weekend’s first attempt at a night race on Australian soil in more than two decades was a tremendous success, as fans packed into Sydney Motorsport Park, while a huge increase in television audience tuned in to watch Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen take the chequered flag.
With drivers, teams, fans and media hailing the event a success, Supercars boss Sean Seamer admitted the series will now evaluate expanding the concept to other venues.
The Kiwi round at Pukekohe Park Raceway looms as an obvious choice. It is a small track and relatively easy to fit with temporary lighting like that used in Sydney. The time difference means races are run earlier than normal at present but a later time slot would help Australian television reach more of a prime time audience.
The New Zealand round always attracts a good crowd — more than 100,000 across the weekend. But that figure is decreasing as fans become used to the same thing each year. A night race would serve as a novelty and breathe new life into an already successful event.
Supercars are yet to start talking to circuits about moving to a night format but are well aware of the potential a shift would hold.
“The format could certainly be replicated at other circuits, although first and foremost is fully debriefing on the weekend just gone,” Supercars spokesman Cole Hitchcock told the Weekend Herald.
“Sydney was fantastic, no doubt, a great exercise which could definitely be transferred to other venues.
“There are a lot of considerations within the planning of next year’s calendar and beyond, including formats and dates.
“The base template is definitely there, should we decide on more fixtures like it in future.”
Pukekohe Park has permanent lighting in place for horse racing, although that would have only a minimal impact on lighting the motor racing circuit.
The track has had no discussion with Supercars about the possibility of a night race but would be open to working on the concept should the series come calling.
“As management of Pukekohe Park Raceway, we would always entertain any idea that promoters might have in regards to hiring the circuit,” Pukekohe circuit manager Paul Fallon told the Weekend Herald.
“If approached, we would certainly sit down with them but there would be a lot of hurdles to jump to make it happen.”
The next round of the championship is at the new Bend Motorsport facility in rural Adelaide on August 24-26. Pukekohe hosts the second-tolast round of the championship on November 2-4.