Supercars may still pull pin on race in NZ

Negotiations drag on over future events at ageing Pukekohe event

Supercars are again in danger of exiting New Zealand. This weekend could be the last event in this country with no deal agreed for next year and rival international venues circling.

Ateed [Auckland Council’s events arm] and Supercars have been working on a three-year extension to keep the round at Pukekohe until 2020 but negotiations have dragged and no agreement has been reached.

Both sides remain optimistic of a deal but there remains the possibility of places such as Sepang in Malaysia or a Bangkok street race taking the slot if something isn’t sorted soon.

Although most motorsport pundits expected a new deal to be announced this week, it appears unlikely.

“Contract negotiations are ongoing,” said Ateed general manager destination Steve Armitage. By all accounts funding isn’t the stumbling block with a memorandum of understanding signed by both parties weeks ago that detailed Ateed’s investment.

One of the problems had been the state of the ageing South Auckland track, which needs money spent on it — funding that neither Ateed nor Supercars wants to stump up.

New track boss Peter Hunt said they have worked hard on a limited budget to get the venue ready for this weekend.

“We have resurfaced the back straight and we have also resurfaced the pit area and exit on to the circuit,” Hunt told the Weekend Herald.

“We have done some remedial work to the approach to turn one and also the approach to ITM Mountain — coming out of the sweeper and going up the mountain.

“The circuit hasn’t really been touched in a major way since its refurbishment in 2013 so it is in need of some TLC. We haven’t fully completed turn one and the approach to the mountain.

“We have pre-levelled it but we have another application of asphalt to do post the Supercars. It has improved the safety aspects of those high speed corners.

“We have committed $600,000. We have spent a good lot of that already and there is more to finish off.”

Hunt is certain the track can afford to maintain the surface over the next 3-5 years with careful budgeting and is adamant that it won’t be a reason to hold up the ongoing negotiations.

“Absolutely — hence why we have made this initial investment and why we will continue to invest,” he said. “In hindsight, we probably have been a bit remiss of not having a programmed maintenance and upkeep of the track surface but we now have that in place.

“We have just invested a good amount of money in the pit garages, which has refurbished them and put fire alarms in them etc.

“Regardless of Supercars or not, we want to provide the best racing circuit, surface and facilities for Aucklanders.

“Supercars is a very important event for us but there are other events we would like to attract back to Pukekohe Park such as the Grand Prix and Toyota Racing Series.

“The investment is with the eye on Supercars but we have our eye on the ball for providing a top-class facility for motorsport in general. We have engaged with Supercars around that investment. They are very happy with that investment.”

The New Zealand round has been included on a 2018 Supercars calendar but if a deal is not reached by the end of the year they will almost certainly opt for Asia instead.