V8 Supercars tops off stunning week of sport

The chequered flag has come down on another successful ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars with Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Racing Australia) winning the Jason Richards Trophy in the V8 Supercars Championship’s third year back at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

Event owners V8 Supercars, sponsor Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), and the event’s official charity, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) agree that ITM 500 delivered a world-class display of motorsport. V8 Supercars has estimated 116,554 attendees over three stunning days at Pukekohe.

“Auckland turned it on for the V8 Supercars this week, with a series of free events to celebrate the V8s being back in town, including the chance for fans to get up close to their favourite drivers in Aotea Square on Thursday,” says ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley.

“Together with perfect weather over the three days at Pukekohe, New Zealand’s spiritual home of motorsport, it has been an awesome event, and the huge crowds that turned out have been rewarded with brilliant world-class motor racing action”, says Brett O’Riley.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said: “I want to thank ATEED and all our partners including ITM for their support of this fantastic event. Pukekohe is a favourite destination for our teams and drivers who always enjoy great racing at this historic circuit.

“Thank you also to New Zealand motor sport fans who are among the most passionate and knowledgeable in the world. They’ve enjoyed great entertainment on and off the track this weekend including the True Colours Trackwalk where thousands of fans were able to get up close and personal with the drivers and their cars on the grid.”

Mayor Len Brown says in addition to the V8 Supercars event boosting Auckland’s regional GDP by more than $14.5 million in its first two years, the ITM 500 Auckland has boosted Auckland’s profile overseas via international television coverage of the event.

“Welcoming the V8s here in November this year means Auckland is in the spotlight as a great visitor destination with the peak tourism season approaching. That includes the wider Auckland region, Pukekohe and local iwi Ngati Tamaoho, and our ANZAC links with RSA as the event’s official charity.”

Local Board Chair, Andrew Baker, says the ITM 500 Auckland is an important event for the Franklin region.

“Pukekohe enjoys welcoming the V8 Supercars teams and fans every year, and this year has been a corker with stunning weather and great racing action. We had a local V8 Supercars Drive-in Movie, to get revved up ahead of the main event and our local businesses, volunteers and residents have been great hosts as always, says Baker.

Independent analysis of the ITM 500 Auckland’s outcomes and attendance will be available in

March 2016.

ENDS

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