South Island Endurance Series opener postponed

The first round of the South Island Endurance Series has been postponed as the country grapples with its ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

Ruapuna was scheduled to host the season opener on the first weekend of September.

However, this event would only have occurred if New Zealand was at alert level 2 or lower.

With most of the country remaining at alert level 4 until at least Friday, series organisers felt it was in the best interests of competitors to push back the start of the season by two weeks.

Teretonga will now be the venue for the opening round on September 17-18.

“The committee do not believe there is any reasonable chance to be below Covid level 2 prior to next weekend,” SIERDC co-ordinator Cate Paddon said.

“Even if this did occur, we do not believe this would allow enough time for teams to prepare and get to Christchurch, let alone our North Island teams who would greatly struggle to make it in time even if the lockdown was lifted Tuesday night.”

Last week, Velocity News learned that a cancellation of Ruapuna wasn’t off the cards should the race be impacted by the country’s lockdown.

However, the Christchurch circuit will instead now be the championship finale on November 6.

“We are incredibly grateful that Ruapuna were able to offer up a secondary date with an already busy calendar of motorsport,” Paddon said.

Rounds at Levels and Highlands Motorsport Park remain on their original date.

The new Ruapuna date also means there is a two-week gap between the end of the South Island series and the New Zealand Endurance Championship round at Hampton Downs.

New SIERDC calendar:

_{Main Image: Terry Marshall}