Big motor racing formula hopes for NZ

08 June 2011
immediate release

Big motor racing formula hopes for NZ

The prospect of high-powered international race cars bearing football club names battling it out in New Zealand this year has come one step closer.

Taupo’s international circuit now has a signed option to stage November’s final 2011 round of the glamorous Superleague Formula, in which Kiwi Earl Bamber turned heads with an impressive drive in Holland last weekend.

The championship organisers have handed the official option to the CEO of Taupo Motorsport Park, Geoff Langham, who is in Europe for the negotiations.

“The Superleague bosses have visited Taupo and we’ve had very positive discussions and negotiations, but I did not consider the deal done until now that I have the letter of authority in my hand,” said Mr Langham, who is a qualified lawyer.

“It gives us the first option to stage a New Zealand round, which would be the final in this worldwide championship, in or around November. In effect it’s a lockout of anyone else in our part of the world who might hope to piggyback on the great work Taupo has done.

“The option lasts until the end of this month, which gives me time to get back to New Zealand and address the funding options we have been putting in place around the prospect.”

But Mr Langham warns there is still much work to do.

“We have to consider this opportunity alongside other international series I have been able to persuade to consider Taupo as a venue,” he said.

“Looking just at Superleague, it’s an expensive series to be involved in and although I’ve had very real indications of possible or likely support during the past few months while we’ve been negotiating with the organisers, now is the time for the funders to step up to the plate.

“Everyone knows it’s a tough environment with the global financial crisis and the earthquakes, but we have done the hard work getting these people to commit to New Zealand and Taupo.

“They love the place. Some of the key people have been to New Zealand for events in car racing or other sports and they like to combine it with a holiday, stay a fortnight and see the region and the country.

“That’s why the final round of the series makes so much sense – people from the championship as well as spectators can stay on and enjoy New Zealand. They can’t wait to get here.

“When the Superleague executives came to inspect the circuit and our facilities we showed them around Taupo and the region and they were blown away by the natural beauty and the really exciting things they were able to do around the area,” said Mr Langham, whose brief in the CEO role is to bring a large event to Taupo and the international race circuit.

The Superleague Formula is extraordinary in motorsport terms, with single-seaters that perform like Formula One cars, using 750bhp V12 engines producing extremely close and exciting racing.

It visits some of the world’s most famous circuits including Monza, Nurburgring and Donington Park.

Football club involvement, where cars carry the colours of clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan, attracts worldwide fans from outside motorsport.
The series is televised around the world reaching using cutting-edge broadcast technology. It has never been raced further south than China.
ends

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