The South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club have announced another initiative to get more cars on the grid for their 2009 South Island Endurance Series. For the first time in over 20 years the series has moved away from its traditional March/April dates, plus they have also announced that a One hour race series will accompany the traditional Three hour three race series.
With their traditional March/April dates all clashing with other major events, the committee deemed it necessary for the move into Spring 2009. Both the one hour & three hour series’ will run over three rounds, one at each of the South Island race circuits with Round One at Teretonga Park on 26 September 2009, round Two at Levels Raceway on October 17/18 2009 and the final round Three at Powerbuilt Ruapuna on 31 October 2009.
There will now be two separate races within the race with the One hour cars competing in their own separate race and championship from the Three hour cars. Both series’ will still have 5 separate racing classes with cars divided into four capacity based classes being, Class 4: 0-1600cc, Class 3: 1601-2000cc, Class 2: 2001-3500cc and class 1: 3501cc and over, but also include a new GT class for the Porsche GT3’s & V8 Supercars and other exotic cars in the field.
Series Secretary Chris Dunn said “We see the one hour series as a great opportunity for new competitors to get a foot in the door with Endurance racing or for competitors to still compete but with less expense. Our new dates have a host of benefits including competitors, especially in the NZ championship classes, can come & get some valuable seat time & miles on the South Island Circuits prior to the start of the traditional summer series.” “It also means that there is a considerable gap between the North Island & South Island series which will hopefully attract more competitors to cross the ditch, plus competitors will now have the winter months to prepare their cars.”
High Country artist Norman Sinclair will again donate an original watercolor painting as a prize, which is valued in excess of $10,000-00. In a first for NZ Motorsport the Club is to give the painting away as a spot prize. “We want to encourage the smaller class cars to compete in our Series as much as the bigger faster guys, so having the painting as a spot prize means that any competitor in the Three hour series has the chance to win it” said Dunn. “We have only really just managed to secure these dates, so now it’s a matter of starting again getting competitor numbers together & re-discussing our Sponsorship & Television opportunities”.
With TV coverage at two of its 2008 rounds plus a prizemoney pool of $7500, the series is currently working with overall and class sponsors for 2009. Competitors need to register their interest early by contacting the series secretary, Chris Dunn, via e-mail at sierdc@xtra.co.nz or phone 021-107-9293. Any potential competitors, crews and supporters are welcome to be added to the clubs e-mailing list by simply sending an e-mail to the above address.
