After a five year break the South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club (SIERDC) are thrilled to announce they will be returning to the magnificent Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell on 23/24 November 2018 for the hosting of the 2018/19 Carters Tyre Service New Zealand Endurance Championship (NZEC).
This prestigious Championship event is the first in a 5 year agreement inked between the popular Endurance Series and the stunning Central Otago venue that will see Highlands host the New Zealand Endurance Championship event or South Island Series finale on alternate years until 2023.
The Series last visited the venue in 2013 for Highlands inaugural race meeting, and fans will fondly remember Kiwi ace Shane Van Gisbergen charging around the circuit, driving the wheels off the Carters Tyres Ford Falcon to take a popular win. “It will be awesome to get back there” said Series secretary Chris Dunn “it’s an exquisite venue and with there will be no home town advantage for the South over the North so it will be game on for all the silverware on offer.”
Highlands, Chief Operating Officer, Josie Spillane said “we are delighted that race fans are going to be able to enjoy a New Zealand Championship here at Highlands. We’ve spent the last five years hosting the Aussies in November and we are delighted to be supporting the very best in NZ endurance racing. The team and I look forward to showcasing to the competitors our facilities, the circuit and our renowned Central Otago hospitality.
The format for the NZEC event will be to invite the top 20 cars from the North Island series plus the top 20 cars from the South Island series to a one off, winner takes all, NZEC event. This will ensure that spectators and fans will see all the very best Endurance cars in New Zealand go head to head.
With NIERDC and SIERDC working together with a common set of rules has really benefitted both Series, with many new and exciting cars becoming involved in the series, and many of these only come out for the two respective Series. “The Series is all about the drivers” said NIERDC President Kel McBeath. “We aim to keep the politics low & the fun high and this has resulted in bumper fields of happy teams, drivers and organisers”
Any potential competitors, crews and supporters are welcome to be added to the clubs e-mailing list by simply sending an e-mail to; [email protected] or [email protected] or by following the Series’ via their respective facebook pages.
