MEDIA RELEASE: BNT – the leading provider in New Zealand of replacement and aftermarket automotive spare parts and an established sponsor of V8 motor racing in the country – has been confirmed it will be the naming rights sponsor for the NZ Touring Car championship.
The sponsorship agreement will see the category become known as the BNT NZ Touring Cars.
BNT General Manager Mike MacDonald says the company is pleased to be able to announce its partnership with the class.
“BNT has had a long association with supporting premier New Zealand motorsport and we see this as a great opportunity to partner the NZ Touring Cars championship,” says MacDonald.
“There is huge interest in motorsport in New Zealand, particularly with our customer base.
“The partnership gives us the opportunity to connect with our customers via a fun filled entertainment experience.
“The various race meetings around NZ offer BNT an excellent setting for delivering an effective marketing
platform and unique customer experiences to enjoy an engrained kiwi experience of a day at the track.”
“We are also proud to continue our support of Tim Edgell in the Chesters Holden again for another season.”
The BNT NZ Touring Cars will also enjoy major support from Dunlop – as the official tyre supplier, Gull as the official fuel suppler, as well as Interislander and Tranzrail.
The newly formed BNT NZ Touring Cars class is the combining of three classes together, what were known as the V8 SuperTourers (V8ST), NZV8 TLX and NZV8 TL.
Under the BNT NZ Touring Car umbrella, V8ST and TLX cars will be in Class one, TL cars will be in Class two.
On the track, rising star Simon Evans, who won the V8 SuperTourer championship in 2014/15 in a Holden will go up against current NZV8 champion Jason Bargwana in his Toyota Camry.
Australian Bargwanna, is eager to get back across the ditch and to challenge for another championship win in the new category.
“I am bursting at the seems to get back to racing and for the season to start at the technical and exciting drivers tracks that Taupo is. It is the perfect way to get this new era in New Zealand motorsport under way,” says Bargwanna.
“This weekend is a major step in giving back to the fans and putting on dynamic and exciting racing by bringing together the best the country and ‘Aussie’ has to offer.”
“Over the years I have proudly worked closely with Interislander and Dunlop, had a great relationship with BNT, and I am excited to meet the team at Gull and be ready to represent our partners in this history making season.”
This season will be Bargwanna’s third aboard the Richards Team Toyota Camry and says he has his sights on the opposition.
“To be back for a third season with Richards team Toyota in the Toyota V8 Camry, and taking all the frontline championship teams and drivers on the track together means it is going to be an absolute ‘cracker’ of a season. We have our sights set on not only beating Nick Ross (Nissan) and Simon Evans, but frankly everybody on the track – this is going to be epic.”
Current V8 SuperTourer champion Simon Evans says he is equally excited to get the new season and category underway.
“I’m very excited that we are all back under the same umbrella, and to have the support from BNT is fantastic. It’s going to be a good grid of V8’s with undoubtedly some good battles throughout the field for the fans to watch. Barg’s will be racing at 110% as he always does and it will be great to have Craig Baird back on the grid with Team Kiwi Racing as well.”
The BNT NZ Touring Cars hit the track this weekend at Taupo for Round 1 of the championship, for the Ssangyong Super Weekend – October 17-18.
