There will be even more on the line in the North Island Endurance Series (NIERDC) next season as the competition announces the introduction of the “AmAm” Michelin Trophy Cup.
The North Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club’s new president Mark Petch says that the committee believed the future of New Zealand 3-hour endurance racing lay in recognising the many amateur drivers that make up the series and “AmAm” [amateur/amateur] driver pairings deserved equal recognition to the “ProAm” competitors.
“The club has invested in significant new permanent trophies sponsored by Michelin, a long-term tire supplier to the NIERDC series. Most importantly, there is no requirement for competitors to use the trophy’s namesake tires to win the Michelin Trophy Cup,” says Petch.
“It’s a magnanimous gesture on Michelins’ part that goes hand in hand with their invaluable on-track support and commitment to the North and South Island series club members,”
“Wayne Scott and his team travel up and down the country supplying and fitting race tyres in all kinds of weather, and we are very grateful for their assistance on and off the track.
“We know that elite, big-name Pro drivers add an exciting element to the series, and as such, they will continue to feature in the limelight, and long may that continue. However, we also want to recognise the driving talent observed in many top-level Class One GT3 cars.”
To this end, “AmAm” competitors’ cars will feature different colour racing numbers and bear the “ AmAm” insignia so spectators and viewers alike can easily recognise the driver pairing status within the same race.
The presentation podium will see the “ AmAm” winner of each 3-hour race share centre stage with the outright winners.
With the impending closure of the Pukekohe Park circuit early next year, the NIERDC gets underway slightly earlier than on past occasions. A meeting at that venue will see the 2023 season kick off on 3/4/5 March.
They will then return to Pukekohe at the very last race meeting on 24/25/26 March for a “Celebrity” non-championship event. Details for that event will be announced in future.
Hampton Downs will host Round 2 on 21/22/23 April, before the season-concluding Round 3 at Taupo on Motorsport Park on 12/13/14 May.
With the end of the year fast approaching, the 2023 NIERDC season will soon be upon us, the new “AmAm” Michelin Trophy Cup now creating an even more competitive field.
“To present the winning pair of AmAm drivers alongside the winning ProAm drivers and receive identical trophies is a first for New Zealand endurance racing, and I have little doubt that it will be well-received amongst our Club members,” says Petch.
