[iV8SC14R10111213] ITM Auckland 500, Pukekohe -24-27 April

[GTRMagic]

Time for the circus to go overseas for the second time this year...

With the strength of the Kiwi pilots' form in the series this year, will Mr Van Gisbergen, Mr Coulthard or Mr McLaughlin take the spoils on this 4 race weekend?

Or will 888 find their magic go-switch and get back up the front where they believe they own the space

FPR #5 for the win?

[rich07]

overseas for the second time this year .....

[Samwhk]

I'll be there, cheering the bros on. Looking forward to hearing the Volvo in the flesh, and hoping for some more close racing.

Should be a good weekend, taken a few extra days off work to see it all, drink some beers and not worry about the Mrs interrupting with plans that I had apparently been told of!

[adbutler]

Originally Posted by Samwhk

the Mrs interrupting with plans that I had apparently been told of!

Glad to see that I'm not the only one with this annoying problem

[fomoco]

Although I am a Fordie, and an ex servicemen , the HRT ANZAC livery is once again awsome. The only disapointment is I wont be there to see up close.

[champcarman]

So we have NZV8s and NZ V8 Supertourers as support classes?

Anyone seen a race schedule for the weekend yet?

[peckstar]

Schedule is on v8 supercars website.

4 races for v8supercars at this event

1 Friday, 2 Saturday and 200k race on sunday

[pukekoheracer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Schedule is on v8 supercars website.

4 races for v8supercars at this event

1 Friday, 2 Saturday and 200k race on sunday

Saturday Look like a cracker

2 V8SC
2 V8ST

Plus Practice/Qualifying

Going to be interesting with Lap Times (Between the 2 Class) in Qualifying and Race or if it rains and with the weather the way it is at the moment there is a pretty good Chance

[pigs fly]

EX- Cyclone ITA headed your way this w-end.

[mikuni]

Originally Posted by pigs fly

EX- Cyclone ITA headed your way this w-end.

Already been and gone.

[FAS33]

Kiwi drivers should take out the wins this round.

[NZSTfan]

Looks like this weekends events will be rain affected at some point, including the big Sunday races. The problem is a stalled cold front over much of the North Island.

Puke can be a hard place to drain water effectively if it does happen, and with the concrete jungle, it can be quite costly too with potential car damage.

Normally when you Aussies come over the weather is just fantastic (and then it hoses down as soon as you head back over the ditch!), but I do have some concerns for this weekend.

Could this be a repeat of that heavily rain affected meeting in Hamilton when SVG won his first race?

It my not happen either, but when you look at GFS models, they are normally there or thereabouts.

I am looking forward to seeing the new Volvo (and hearing it - it sounds crazy on TV) and seeing V8SCars full stop. I am also keen to see how the SuperTourers go at the same track and if the much-talked about 'roughly a second off at Puke' will still apply?

Hope heaps of you good people from Aussie are heading over to NZ for our biggest annual sporting event

[Fairlane GTA]

Just a heads up, there was roadworks today on the Bombay to Puke road, about 500 metres of tar spray with chip. Very large delays this afternoon, may pay to come via an alternative route thursday.

[rustyfan]

This is going to be awesome. Looks like we'll get at least three of the races shown live here in Sweden. Gonna be a pain in the arse getting up at 4am on Saturday, but it'll be worth it

[peckstar]

only 1 practise session this weekend, wont want to miss that as a driver

Hard tyres all weekend and only new ones allowed,

[GTRMagic]

Looks naked without a rear wing huh...

[NZSTfan]

Phew! what a bizarre day 1 for the support categories. One minute its dry, nek minnit its hosing it down.

This seemed to suit the team I am in as our driver got his best qualifying yet, so we're pretty stoked.

But as usual the standing water at T1 etc was a swimming pool.

2moro's set up in the skies does have the stalled cold front (as mentioned earlier) coming thru. I don't see it being a major as far as todays conditions go, but there should be some rain from about midday, but it should be quite light, but its Puke so who knows!. Rain should continue (light rain) for the rest of the day, so it may affect practice and qually sessions for the supercars.

The front then should stall overnight with Saturday rain on the cards first thing (maybe moderate falls in the morning), and moving back to lighter rain around midday. By the end of Satdee, it should be gone-burgers.

Which then leaves a dry Sunday for the big races, wind from the NW, but nothing to get worried about. Sunday evening, whens its all done and dusted should pack in again, but who cares about that!.

So the positives are: rain free sunday
Negatives are: rain affected Saturday.

I am lucky enough to be doing local weather analysis for a few teams in the support categories. I never ever trust our metservice, and in a place like Puke it does help if you have someone who can read the clouds and let the right people know what time the weather will hit, and also what part of the track. I've managed to get this part right 100% of the time so far, but I have to be on the ground to do this. Rain Radars etc just don't have the resolution needed. No doubt it won't be too long before I make the wrong call

Am loving the buzz of having the Supercar circus in town. Even today, there where quite good crowds all things considered.

[one five five]

What are people's opinions of a Friday race?

Will the TV figures do it justice? They are going head to head with well established ANZAC Day sporting events, not to mention people's general ANZAC Day activities.

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by one five five

What are people's opinions of a Friday race?

Will the TV figures do it justice? They are going head to head with well established ANZAC Day sporting events, not to mention people's general ANZAC Day activities.

10am on 7mate in Sydney........Ch73.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Looks naked without a rear wing huh...

To be perfectly honest I think it looks great without a wing

I wonder what it'd look like with a NASCAR-style spoiler.

[rich07]

Brighty on pole. Go you good thing!!

[NinnyMan]

Originally Posted by one five five

What are people's opinions of a Friday race?
Will the TV figures do it justice? They are going head to head with well established ANZAC Day
sporting events, not to mention people's general ANZAC Day activities.

I think that it being on so early back here in Aus (10am Melb) I think most people will simply forget it's even on.

It's not going head to head with any of the major sports events though. The V8 telecast ends at 12:30pm just as
the AFL ANZAC TV coverage starts. Game actually starts at 2:30pm. The 3 NRL games are on late this afternoon
and tonight. Being on early here it won't be going up against anything other then the tradition of people paying
respect at the dawn service and the march.....so that will have an impact on TV numbers.....but it's a one off!!!

[Matt]

THUSDAY NIGHT THUNDER from PUKEKOHE for us in the States, currently ten after 9pm!

[peckstar]

The crowd look good.
I've observed that sport has become a big part of the ANZAC tradition. Out our local service we we encouraged to go to the local football events.
The early TV coverage will be interesting, but means we are not clashing with other sports. However I'm watching

[Wazzi]

[QUOTE=NinnyMan;3397941]I think that it being on so early back here in Aus (10am Melb) I think most people will simply forget it's even on.

Got to agree, I am one, knew it was today but assumed it would be laterand missed the first half. Maybe more advertising on 7 before the event would have helped.
Anyway, go Brighty!