Dates for the 2021 Golden Homes North Island Endurance Championship have been altered, with Pukekohe Park now set to host the opening round in May.
The four-round championship was initially slated to begin in April at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo.
However, with the Speedworks Summer Series forced to postpone a round of its championship due to Covid-19 implications, North Island Endurance organisers have decided to shift back the start of their season.
“With Covid lockdowns rearing their head again, the ramifications of the delay to the Speedworks Championship summer series will have negative number on a number of entries already received for both the one- and two-hour event”, said David Dovey, President of the NIERDC organising club.
Pukekohe Park will now hold the opening round on May 8-9. The circuit configuration has also been confirmed as the current Supercars layout. The chicane along the back straight now comes into play for drivers.
Round two will then be held at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on May 28-29.
Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park will stage round three on June 11-12.
The series returns to Pukekohe on June 26-27 for its finale. The second Pukekohe round will also use the Supercars circuit configuration.
“Looking at the impact on entries for our first event, our management committee has decided the safest course of action is to shift round one back into early May and begin our series at Pukekohe on the 8-9th may, Dovey said.
“Our new two-hour race format has been extremely well supported and we want to ensure that all those competitors that have already entered or indicated that they will enter have the best opportunity to do so.”
Dovey added that a record number of cars are expected to show up this season.
“Competitor interest in the North Island Endurance Series is running at an all-time high and we are expecting upward of 70-plus car across both the one- two and three-hour races with some exciting new entries already received”.
Main Image: Tayler Burke
2021 North Island Endurance Series calendar
| Rnd | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pukekohe | May 8-9 |
| 2 | Hampton Downs | May 28-29 |
| 3 | Taupo | June 11-12 |
| 4 | Pukekohe | June 26-27 |