• Latest
  • Trending

Rowan Shepherd set to contest SIERDC as international plans get stalled

July 2, 2020

Kostecki claims commanding Townsville win as Kiwi Payne just misses podium in Supercars Sprint opener

July 11, 2025

Kostecki claims pole as Kiwi contenders battle through tight Townsville qualifying

July 11, 2025
2023 VAILO Adelaide 500, Event 12 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 24 Nov, 2023.

Celebration of life planned for Tim Miles as Supercars paddock pays tribute

July 11, 2025

Randle tops Practice 2 as Matt Payne leads Kiwi charge in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Ryan Wood tops Practice 1 as Brown crashes late in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Bewley to make street circuit debut in Townsville Porsche Sprint Challenge Round

July 11, 2025

Rally Debut: Liam Lawson gets a taste of WRC in 2025 Ford Puma Rally1 car at Goodwood

July 11, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

July 11, 2025

LIVE: Goodwood Festival of Speed – Watch Liam Lawson, Greg Murphy, Mad Mike & more

July 10, 2025

Top US team HMD Motorsports confirmed for Toyota FR Oceania Trophy

July 10, 2025

Jacob Douglas scores podium, Sebastian Manson battles back in USF Pro Championship at Mid-Ohio

July 10, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025
VelocityNews
Subscribe
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Rowan Shepherd set to contest SIERDC as international plans get stalled

by Zane Shackleton
July 2, 2020
in New Zealand, News, SIERDC
0

Rowan Shepherd is set to tackle the upcoming South Island Endurance Series in one of some 12 TCR cars in New Zealand, but admits he will likely have to sacrifice his international campaigns as the global pandemic has forced the kiwi to be sat grounded at home.

The 28-year-old contested in last year’s European TCR 24 Hour series season-finale at Barcelona and the inaugural TCR 500 event from Spa-Francorchamps.

2020 was set to have Shepherd return to Europe with Danish outfit Holmgaard Motorsport in the new Volkswagen Golf GTI to run the entire 24 Hour series.

However, the global pandemic has since kept the Canterbury-based racer at home despite the series already underway.

“The TCR endurance series is still going ahead,” Shepherd told Velocity News. “But obviously we have missed rounds in Portugal and Italy.

“We are still tossing up whether to go to Barcelona. But we are now waiting to see as it is not just a matter of going over there and racing. With the two weeks lockdown when coming home and because I still have my day job there is also that cost element to consider.”

Nonetheless, Shepherd remains firm in his intentions and says there is now the strong chance of him competing in the full South Island Endurance Series in a yet-to-be-confirmed TCR with an opportunity to potentially also contest the North Island series.

2019 saw Shepherd secure a SIERDC drive at the season-finale in Ruapuna with Track Tec Racing in an Audi RS TCR where he snared fourth in class after suffering suspension dramas in the race’s early stages.

But with his overseas plans now on the back burner, Shepherd will finally have the opportunity to contest a fully-fledged South Island campaign.

“We are exploring options to contest the South Island Endurance Series in a TCR car and we are finalising details with a team to run that.

“I did think about jumping in a [non-TCR] car but it just didn’t make any sense. I want to drive a TCR car and keep my skills up. But an announcement for the series could be about a week to two weeks away.

“The North Island series would also be really cool but obviously there is that added cost that needs to be considered. But the South Island Series looks very likely to go ahead.”

Shepherd at Ruapuna last year with Track Tec Racing

Shepherd is also one of four kiwi TCR drivers to be a part of the inaugural TCR Australia sim-racing championship which kicked off its opening round around a virtual Albert Park last week.

Using the popular Assetto Corsa software, Shepherd says the sim platform is the most realistic driving experience to a real TCR though nothing can match the real thing.

“I’ve found the Asseto Corsa software the series uses to be the most realistic sim to the real drive,” he said. “I found the iRacing TCR car was just too ‘understeery’.

“I’ve also only got a $500 sim so it is not the best piece of equipment out there, but it is a lot of fun racing against some top guys.

“I am committed with Track Tec Racing to run all of the rounds so hopefully we can pick up some good results.”

Kiwi rally ace Hayden Paddon has also hinted his interest to contest the South Island Endurance Series as a co-driver in his own Hyundai TCR machine though nothing concrete had been confirmed. It is expected that several other South Island based TCR car’s, will also compete in the upcoming SIERDC Series.

The opening round of the 2020 South Island Endurance Series will be at Teretonga Park on September 12.

2020 SIERDC calendar:

RoundCurcuitDate
1Teretonga ParkSept 12
2Mike Pero Motorsport ParkOct 3
3Levels RacewayOct 17

Main Image: Tayler Burke

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.