• Latest
  • Trending

If borders are closed until 2022 what happens to NZ motorsport?

August 11, 2021

Will Power to leave Team Penske after 17 years, Scott McLaughlin set to race alongside rumoured new teammate for 2026

September 3, 2025

Matt McCutcheon: From Speedway to Supercars and back again

September 3, 2025

Mad Mike Whiddett tackles 2025 Polaris World Championship at Crandon

September 3, 2025

Record 36-car grid launches SS Cup’s 10th season

September 3, 2025

Formula Open New Zealand to take hiatus for 2025/26 season, set to return in 2027

September 3, 2025

Zach Blincoe targets championship glory in second GR86 season

September 2, 2025

Drivers gearing up for 2025 Bathurst 1000

September 2, 2025
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 30: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 30, 2025 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202508300093 // Usage for editorial use only //

Red Bull’s Driver Dilemma: Hadjar emerges as contender while Tsunoda faces deadline

September 2, 2025
94 DUVAL Loic (fra), JAKOBSEN Malthe (dnk), Peugeot TotalEnergies, Peugeot 9X8 #94, Hypercar, action during the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo 2025, 5th round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, from July 11 to 13, 2025 on the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Photo Fabrizio Boldoni / DPPI

Nick Cassidy joins Peugeot for 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship

September 2, 2025

Briscoe wins at Darlington as Van Gisbergen struggles to 32nd in brutal playoff opener

September 1, 2025

Callum Hedge out of race after heavy crash at Nashville Raceway

September 1, 2025
Thursday, September 4, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

If borders are closed until 2022 what happens to NZ motorsport?

by Samantha Hine
August 11, 2021
in New Zealand, News, NZ General
0

The recently released Skegg report, compiled by Professor Sir David Skegg and the Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, details a potential path for possible reopening of New Zealand’s borders amid the ongoing pandemic. 

What could these suggested changes mean for local series’? 

The report suggests that international travel won’t get back underway until the population is largely vaccinated, adding that this likely won’t be until 2022.

Even then travel may only be open to countries deemed to be lower risk with high vaccination rates. 

“If the vaccine coverage were lower and with appreciable heterogeneity, there would be much larger outbreaks, with more hospital admissions and deaths, and various forms of lockdown would be required to bring them under control,” the report says.

“Our group does not believe border restrictions should be relaxed significantly (beyond current ‘bubble’ arrangements, as with Australia and the Cook Islands) until the vaccination programme has been fully rolled out.”

This would not only be a significant change to current rules but would further affect local motorsport.

The Castrol Toyota Racing Series is likely to be one of the most affected local championships, the category typically sees the next generation of open-wheel talent flock to New Zealand from all around the world.

If international travel isn’t possible by the time the 2022 series kicks off, it could result in the series having to rely on entries from New Zealand and Australia

In 2021, the series was also forced to cut the championship down to three events all of which were in the North Island, two of which only had a handful of drivers. 

The season saw a number of up and coming drivers competing against some of the country’s biggest motorsport names, particularly at the 66th New Zealand Grand Prix, which saw the grid size more than double. 

A plethora of our biggest local stars including Greg Murphy, Andre Heimgartner, Shane van Gisbergen and Kenny Smith joined the grid in the absence of international competitors. 

The potential of a Trans-Tasman bubble reopening in September could be something of a saving grace for the TRS’ hopes

If a Trans-Tasman bubble is in effect during the summer series it may allow some of the Australian competitors to cross the ditch to race here, something that wasn’t an option last season. 

The series calendar was announced earlier this year, which leaves more time for potential competitors to make arrangements to enter the category.

The 2021 Battle of Jacks Ridge may also be affected, it’s set to be the second time the event has been held, after a successful debut, which drew a star-studded lineup of drivers from a variety of disciplines. 

The event is set to welcome van Gisbergen back this year to defend his victory in 2020, although if the Skegg report’s findings become reality his attendance could be up in the air.

A trip home last summer left the Red Bull driver close to missing the pre-season test day when the travel bubble was paused days before he was due to return to Australia. 

Though he made it back without missing the category’s first full test day for 2021, the close call may see the driver and his team being more cautious about returning to the event this time around.  

This is particularly true as this year’s event is set to be held the weekend between the Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney Super night.

This means the Trans-Tasman bubble would have to be open for him to make the trip. 

Main Image: Bruce Jenkins

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

error:
No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.