A record five qualifying sessions, including a Top 10 Shootout, are among 13 track outings scheduled for the V8 Supercars at next month’s ITM 400 Auckland.
As previously reported, the annual New Zealand visit, which this year returns to Pukekohe following five years on the streets of Hamilton, will feature four 100km races.
Races 6 and 7 of the championship will take place on the Saturday afternoon of the April 12-14 meeting, with Races 8 and 9 on the Sunday.
Two 15 minute qualifying sessions, separated by just a 10 minute break, will be held each morning to set the grid for the respective afternoon races.
A Top 10 Shootout will also take place late on Saturday morning, which will lock-in the first five rows of the Race 6 grid.
Originally scheduled as a mixed tyre event, the Pukekohe meeting will be held entirely on the hard compound rubber, with 28 available per car.
The teams will have to make their seven sets last for the entire weekend as there are no pre-marked practice tyres available at international rounds.
Local NZV8, NZV8 Ute, GT1, Muscle Cars and Formula 5000 support categories complete the weekend schedule.
A heavy push to promote the V8 Supercars’ return to Pukekohe has been made this week, including Jamie Whincup taking Auckland mayor Len Brown for a ride through the streets in a Red Bull Holden.
