Record Crowd For V8 Ute Debut In New Zealand

Three thrilling races captivated the record crowd who witnessed the first ever running of the V8 Ute International at Manfeild Park in New
Zealand over the weekend.

After collecting sold point scores across the weekend, Charlie Kovacs and Simon Wills in the NZ Car Parts/TWL sponsored Holden, went into the
final 24 lap race with an 11 point advantage.

The Super Cheap Autos/Sage Café car of Garry Baxter and Jason Richards
lined up along side them to complete the front row.

Home town favourite Chris Pither was at the helm of the Kanga Loaders Commodore when it started from position three on the second row, and
battled hard for the early lead.

In a clean but tough affair, Kovacs took the lead on the first lap and was not headed until the end of lap 10 when he pitted to hand the driving duties over to V8 Supercar driver Simon Wills, who had shown
great pace over the weekend.

The action in pit lane was frenetic with teams working hard to affect
the driver changes required in the fifth race.

Pither elected to stay out the longest waiting until the last possible moment before pitting. But the talented Kiwi had not done enough; Simon Wills took the lead with Kim Jane and Rhys McKay holding down second
after working their way through the field.

The Super Cheap Autos team that were looking good for a podium finish for the weekend, struck trouble in the final race after a left rear tyre deflated destroying what had been a faultless weekend for the team.

A spectacular coming together on the final lap between Jack Elsegood/Dean Farmer and their team mates James Harrigan/Brady Kennett
stole the show on the final turn.

Ford hero Marcus Zukanovic suffered with gearbox failure in today?s reverse grid event, and despite changing the gearbox with minutes to
spare, a slow pit stop dropped him out of contention.

But nothing could be taken away from the overall winner on the weekend, Simon Wills and Charlie Kovacs who greeted the flag with headlights
ablaze.

?It?s an emotional win for us, after the season we would like to forget last year, but this is the way to start a new year.? Kovacs said on the podium. ?Simon was outstanding. He fitted in so well with the team and
showed that he is a very talented drive.?

Wills was equally supportive of his team boss in saying that they really do run a professional outfit and that while different to Supercar?s,
they are a lot of fun to drive.

Kim Jane and Rhys McKay showed their class by keeping the Melbourne Cheapest Cars #27 out of trouble finished a brilliant second.

?Awesome, this is a great event for the utes to come over here and be so well excepted and a good effort by the team to finish on the podium, if they will have me back next year, I will be here.? Jane said through a
cut water melon smile.

Damien White and Dean Perkins who were surprised they finished on the
podium in third, in the Team IMB Ford.

?We were the first Fords home on a weekend that was dominated by
Holden?s so we are happy.? The Ice Man said.

It what can only be described as an amazing weekend, the inaugural V8 Ute International has expanded the love of Australian Ute Racing to a
new audience.

Category Manager Craig Denyer said this weekend has been an outs standing success. ?The series has proven beyond any shadow of doubt that it is strong enough to headline an event in its own right, and provide solid racing entertainment for the overtaking staved race fan. New Zealand loved the event and I hope we can return the favour with a
similar event in Australia.?

SUNDAY?S RACE RESULTS

Race 1 Reverse Grid Team 1

1. Garry MacDonald Holden AUS

2. Charlie Kovacs Holden AUS

3 Nick Ross Holden NZ


Race 2 Reverse Grid Team 2

1. Wade Henshaw Holden NZ

2. Simon Wills Holden NZ

3 Dean Perkins Ford NZ


24 Lap V8 UTE INTERNATIONAL FINAL

1. Simon Wills/ Charlie Kovacs Holden

2 Kim Jane/Rhys McKay Holden

3 Dean Perkins/Damien White Ford

4 Chris Pither/Garry MacDonald Holden

5 James Brock/Wade Henshaw Holden

The final point score for the weekend is as follows: 1 69 Kovacs/Wills NZ Car Parts/Carry Boy 123 2 27 Jane/McKay Melbourne?s Cheapest Cars 107 3 1 White/Perkins Team IMB 105 (Third overall because they finished higher in the final) 4 41 McDonald/Pither Kanga Loaders 105 5 18 O?Grady/Bristow ORT Racing 97 6 71 Zukanovic/Slight Action Racing 87 7 3 Baxter/Richards Super Cheap Autos/ Sage Café 80 8 55 Elliot/Ross The Crop 80 9 22 Brock/Henshaw Brock Race Engineering 72 10 6 McAlister/Stoneman SsangYong/Cairns Bins 70 This point score is provisional. Following Dyno testing a number of cars
have been impounded for further investigation.


Highest Placed Australian Driver
Charlie Kovacs 61 points

Highest Placed New Zealand Driver
Simon Wills 62 points

Trans Tasman Challenge
New Zealand 1185 points
Australia 905 points

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