The 2023 V8 Utes Championship shifts into top gear this weekend with the opening round at Taupo International Motorsport Park.
With several talented new drivers entering the championship, along with the return of several big names, Saturday’s qualifying will be a particularly heated session.
Brad and Greg Kroef will be keen to improve on their 3rd & 4th placings in last year’s championship whilst we’ll also see newcomer Jeremy Hunt in action, driving the potent Holden ute that David ‘Shaggy’ Lowe raced so successfully last season.
Taupo will also be the first outing for the immaculately presented RYCO 24•7 team of David Lowe, Brent Main & Simon McLeod – all racing Ford BF Utes.
Pre-season activity for the championship has been more like a game of musical chairs.
D1NZ drift sensation Blair Gribble Bowring has stepped into Rogers Nees’ Ford BF ute while proven winner from several seasons ago, Glen Collinson, is back in a fresh ute, though some last-minute tweaks have prevented them both from making it to Taupo.
Expect to see them ready for action in Round Two at Pukekohe in March. Last year’s champion Peter Ward was also set to race but his Ward Demolition business is ‘swamped’ with work as a result of the Auckland floods forcing a change of plans.
Despite the absences there’ll still be plenty of competition at the event, a 12 strong field to take part in three races.
Qualifying will take place at 10.30am on Saturday with Race 1 following at 2.53pm. Sunday will see Race 2 take place at 10.30am with Race 3 to follow at 2.30pm.
All three races will be shown live on Sky Sports with the third also being shown free-to-air on TV3 on CRC Motorsport.
International viewers will also be able to tune in as Super Sprint is televised on motorsport.tv (excluding Australia and NZ).
For those across the Tasman, races will screen live on Fox Sports, while the popular Speedweek will also feature V8 Utes action during its regular time slot on SBS.
