The BNT V8 class has announced its radically revised race formats and sporting regulations to help accommodate the arrival of TA2 to our shores and improve the spectacle of V8 racing in New Zealand.
For the forthcoming season, both the TA2 and NZV8s will race in the same field and under the BNT V8s banner.
The most prominent of the regulation changes is the revamping of race formats which will now include two Sprint races and one longer feature race which will have a compulsory pitstop.
The compulsory pit stop will be a Balance of Power timed stop where the times would be determined from previous timed laps. The idea is to gives everyone a fair and even chance to perform well in the Feature Race.
A new point system will also be in place which will heavily weigh in favour of the Feature Race.
“Foremostly NZ Touring Cars Ltd is committed to the new exciting Trans-Tasman V8 Series (TTV8s) based on the controlled TA2 PBR spec car of which there are currently now fifty cars in Australia. The TA2 car sales are progressing nicely from Eastern Automotive the TA2 Service and Sales Agent for NZ,” said Category Manager Gary Lathrope.
“Our intention for the following season, subject to Covid-19 restrictions is to have TTV8s as a stand-alone category for New Zealand and Australian based TA2 PBR Spec cars. At that time the new BNT V8s would then become a separate category under the New Zealand Touring Cars umbrella.”
TA2 is aimed at offering a cost-effective, meaningful racing platform with strict technical regulations and a levelling of performance differences.
The first batch of TA2 driver announcements as well as 2020/21 calendar is set to be unveiled shortly.
Earlier in the year, series organsiers cancelled its 2019/20 season prematurely amid the pandemic, crowing Supercars regular Andre Heimgartner as the class one champion for the second time in his career.
NZ Touring Cars are in the process of finalising the new BNT V8s Series formula with the following regulations are set to be implemented:
Technical Regulations
- Eligible Cars: SuperTourers, TLX, PBR Spec TA2, TLs, 4 door sedans or 2 door Coupes Mustang, Camaro, BMW
- Engine: V8 normally aspirated rear wheel drive
- Any pump fuel regularly available in NZ
- No Driver Aids
- Up to 18 inch diameter rims
- 2 controlled tyre suppliers with similar compounds
- Front and rear tyres to be the same size
- No tyre warmers
- Controlled number of dry tyres per Season/Round
- In Car Camera and Race Radio
Race Formats
- 2 x Sprint Races 1 off marble draw, 2nd reverse of marble draw
- 1 x longer distance Feature Race with a Compulsory Pit Stop
- Feature Race Compulsory Pit Stop will be a Balance of Power (BOP) timed Stop, the times would be determined from previous timed laps, this gives everyone a fair and even chance to perform well in the feature Race