First ever ANZAC Day winner crowned today

Close friends, fierce rivals – that’s today’s theme, as 25 V8 Supercars battle for the ultimate honour of the first ANZAC Day race win.

In 55 years of V8 Supercars/Australian Touring Car history, the category has never before staged a race on the special day, making this year’s ITM 500 Auckland even more coveted.

A range of tributes adorn the V8 Supercars – with both Holden Racing Team Commodores running a full livery in honour, and ‘lest we forget’ emblazoned on bodywork along with red poppies – and the drivers couldn’t be more excited about racing on a day that has meaning both here in New Zealand and back in Australia.

“For me, to race on ANZAC Day is huge,” Kiwi Scott McLaughlin said.

“I know there’s a little bit of family involvement there for me – we were part of the war.

“So to be a part of it and show our colours and cars, to race on ANZAC Day is pretty awesome.”

McLaughlin took his first Championship race win at Pukekohe Park Raceway last year in front of his home crowd, and this time around will be showcasing his new generation Volvo S60 for the manufacturer’s debut across the Tasman.

“It’s fantastic, whether you’re Australian or New Zealand, it’s the biggest rivalry in sport … but everyone comes together on ANZAC Day.”

With three Kiwis in the field – and all of them in top form, in the top 10 of the Championship – the weekend’s competition will be red hot.

The schedule packs plenty into to the day, with one 30-minute practice session just 15 minutes prior to qualifying.

McLaughlin believes it will be crucial to perform well in the weekend’s first race.

“It’s probably one of the most important days of the year – there’s points on offer and you’ve only got one practice,” he said.  

“We’re lucky we had a good car here last year, so we’ve just got to focus on maybe going with what we had last year, seeing if it’s alright and maybe making a few tweaks. But we haven’t got long, so hopefully we an just get through that day, and we’ll be away.” 

Slade is another drive with a personal connection to ANZAC Day, his late grandfather a highly decorated bomber pilot during WWII.A Flight Lieutenant with the Royal Australian Air Force, Herbert Frank earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for ‘exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’.

“While it’s a race meeting, and will be flat out, we will have to remind ourselves what ANZAC day all about,” the Supercheap Auto racer said.

“It’s always meant something to me because my grandpa fought in the war, but it’s also important to remember those who risked their lives for everyone back home in Australia.”

Prior to the first race of the weekend, tribute will be paid on the grid with The Last Post to play before race start.

“I think it will be really cool, hopefully it gets really good reception,” Mark Winterbottom said.

“I normally go to the (AFL) Collingwood-Essendon game. The big blockbuster in Melbourne is really cool, the game being on ANZAC Day gives it a bit more. It’s kind of eerie, the feeling of hearing the trumpet before it starts.

“It’s cool to have our own bit of history, and in New Zealand, because the Kiwis are going really good.”

The Pepsi Max Crew driver felt the Kiwi versus Aussies (and adopted Swede) represented the day well.

“We’re all part of the same group, but trying to fight the battle – so it sort of all makes sense we’re part of that now.

“The Kiwis are going really well, so it’s perfect timing to do it.”

The V8 Supercars action will kick off with a 30-minute practice run at 11.30am local time, with qualifying at 12.15pm and the first 100km race rom 1.37pm. 

A number of drivers, including McLaughlin, will attend this morning’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Pukekohe War Memorial, with all manufacturers represented.

Last year’s event winner Jason Bright has attended a service at home in Melbourne, but has never spent the day in New Zealand. He’s looking forward to the experience.  

“It’ll be pretty cool to do that on the morning of a race meeting,” he told v8supercars.com.au.

“I went to the dawn service in Melbourne a couple of times and it was pretty special – it will be good to do one over in New Zealand.”