All eyes turn to the dirt this weekend with the Time Line Valvoline Superstock Charity Invitational set to take over Paradise Valley Speedway in Rotorua. Celebrities, Superstock racing, Stockcars and a fireworks display are on the cards over two nights of entertainment.
Greg Murphy, Andre Heimgartner, Ryan Wood, Richie Stanaway, Hayden Paddon, and Chris van der Drift are amoung 12 drivers set to take part and are joined by Steve Williams, Darren Kelly, Lance Hughes, Cole Armstrong, Fanga Dan and Aaron Slight.
The celebrities will compete three times each evening.
Williams, known for his time as Tiger Woods’ caddy in addition to his Speedway involvement, is the man behind the event, and all proceeds will go towards Starship Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House through his foundation.
The meet has been a long time in the making, with Covid and weather interruptions pushing it back several years.
It resembles a similar event in 2006 when golfing megastar Woods came to New Zealand and joined the likes of Murphy, Paul Radisich, and All Blacks captain Tana Umaga for a series of celebrity races in Huntly.
In addition to the celebrity competition, Williams has invited 70 Superstock drivers for the event, with the field split into two groups for four races in a 3/4ths system, meaning each competitor will feature three times across four runs.
The top 12 point-scorers from each group will progress to Saturday night’s final, with the remainder offered the chance to qualify for the final two positions through repechages on Saturday night.
Those who don’t qualify will still return to action on Saturday, running the 3/4ths system.
All three 2022/23 New Zealand Stockcar Championship podium placers will be in attendance for the Best of the Rest Series, 1nz Josh Walsh leading the charge along with Scott Tennant and Gary Lonergan.
A select group of Ministocks will compete on Friday, with a second group running on Saturday, where they’ll partner up with a Superstock driver in a ‘Best Pairs’ format.
The meet ends with a fireworks display.
