Organisers of the North Island Endurance Drivers Championship have opened up their “One Hour” endurance race Series to both amateur and so-called “Elite” drivers in a bid to attract more entrants in the Covid enforced delay to the Series start date. Tim Edgell is the first “Elite” driver to have entered the 1 hour NIERDC Series in his modified V8 Supertourer.
The Covid-19 enforced worldwide delay to all motorsport has meant that the NIERC Series has been reduced down from three to two rounds, with the first round starting at Hampton Downs on Saturday the 19th of September next, and the second and last round at Pukekohe a month later on Saturday the 24th of October.
Previously entry was restricted to strictly amateur drivers, however, as with most sports, Covid-19 has had an impact on competitors and sponsors alike, which has a negative flow-on effect to many competitors that would normally be able to find a budget to compete in the annual North Island endurance series.
David Dovey, the president of NIERDC said,
“Opening our “One Hour” endurance race up to both amateur and Elite driver’s along with allowing a wider range of eligible vehicle’s, such as Transam and TA 2 car etc, we hope that many more competitors will see this years One Hour Series, as a great opportunity to have some fun and get in a lot more Bang for their Buck”!
Tim Edgell said,
“I never agreed with my Pro [Elite] driver ranking as I have only ever considered myself as an experienced amateur driver running as a “Mom and Pop” team with my Mother and my Dad, we are a strictly amateur team doing all the car prep ourselves after hours. So whilst I am still disappointed to be ranked as an Elite driver, its great that NIERDC has opened up driver eligibility for their One Hour race, as we cant afford to run in the 3-hour race or compete against purpose-built factory GT3 car’s. My dad Randell and I are excited to finally get back to some real racing and can hardly wait until the Series starts on the 19th of September next.
This is a brilliant initiative which will hopefully boost grid sizes. Well done NIERDC!
This is a brilliant initiative which will hopefully mean big fields. Well done NIERDC!