V8 Supercars Stars to Take Message to South Island

The ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars, New Zealand’s largest annual sporting event, is spreading the word about its successful return to motorsport’s spiritual home at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

Kiwi drivers Fabian Coulthard, Shane van Gisbergen and rookie Scott McLaughlin will be joined by fellow V8 Supercars drivers Rick Kelly and Maro Engel on a road show to talk to fans in the South Island later this month.

Nearly 120,000 fans attended the three-day event this year and now V8 Supercars is keen to take its message to fans in the South Island.

“New Zealand is very important to V8 Supercars on many levels and we were very pleased with the support of fans when we took the race back to Pukekohe this year,” said V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton.

“We are keen to build on this support looking ahead to the ANZAC Weekend racing in 2014. V8 Supercars is a fantastic product and the drivers are excellent athletes and great people. We want to share that with motor race supporters and sports fans around the South Island.”

The road show will be based at ITM stores in Nelson, Christchurch and Invercargill while the Cromwell event will be held at the new Highlands Motorsport Park.

Coulthard and McLaughlin – currently fifth and 10th respectively in the in the V8 Supercars Championship – will visit Nelson on Monday 25 November and will be joined by fellow Kiwi and seventh placed Shane van Gisbergen for two shows in Christchurch on 26 and 27 November.

Kiwi legend Greg Murphy will also be on hand for the road show in Christchurch on 27 Novemer at Dyers Rd ITM.

Former V8 Supercars Champion Kelly and German Engel – who drive the new Nissan Altima and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG brands respectively – will make appearances in Cromwell and Invercargill on Thursday 28 November and Friday 29 November. Van Gisbergen will also attend in Cromwell.

Each appearance at select ITM stores will give fans the chance to meet the drivers, grab an autograph and join them at the ITM Barbeque.

Those who attend will receive a special voucher offering a two for one ticket discount to the ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars. This unique offering is only for those in the South Island who attend the Road Shows.

Road show details are as follows:

Tickets are already available for next year's ITM 500 Auckland, which runs from 24 to 27 April, over the ANZAC Day weekend.