Black to the Future for TKR

From v8supercars.com.au
It’s back to the future for Team Kiwi Racing. The sole New Zealand based team in the V8 Supercar Championship are returning to their roots to run their own entire operation in this year’s V8 Supercar series.

After a challenging 2007 season on and off the track with full technical partnerships firstly with Ford Performance Racing and then Stone Brothers Racing, TKR have decided to take matters into their own hands.

“We needed to step up competitively in the V8 Supercar Championship and those relationships definitely helped in that process,” Team Kiwi Racing owner David John said.

“We also had more than our fair share of issues and allegations made against TKR this year which have been well documented. As a result the TKR Board believes we need to be more in control of our own destiny and direction.

“They want a competitive V8 Supercar team but they also want us to be firmly in control of all aspects of our own operation. And they want TKR to return more to its original philosophies of developing New Zealanders into the V8 Supercar Championship at all levels.”

TKR has purchased a new chassis from the Vodafone Ford team/888 Engineering. And they will continue their relationship with Stone Brothers Racing who will provide the new TKR package with an SBRE engine package.

The team will have its own small base on the Gold Coast where the car will be based and worked on between races and have employed several new Kiwi staff to cover the work load on both sides of the Tasman.

“We have shaken hands with a well-respected V8 Supercar engineer who will run the car development programme and we will be putting ink to that arrangement this week.

“We will be promoting New Zealanders both in the engineering programme and as team personnel as well which was a key part of our original strategy. A number of people in V8 Supercars, not just drivers, had their starts through Team Kiwi Racing and we want to focus on that promise to the New Zealand motor racing industry.”
The decision to manage their own operation will mean they will appoint their own Kiwi driver.

Mr John said he is in final negotiations with a New Zealand-based driver for the 2008 season along with endurance drivers for the 2008 season and expects to make an announcement in the near future.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for the first shoot out at Queensland raceway on the 14th February 2008 and will be looking forward to the season opener on the 21 to 24th February of next month in Adelaide.”