ITM CONTINUES NAMING RIGHTS OF AUCKLAND SUPERSPRINT

Fabian Coulthard leading the field at last years ITM Auckland SuperSprint – Photo: LAT

New Zealand company ITM will continue as naming rights partner of the country’s largest annual motorsport event, the Supercars Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe Park Raceway just outside of Auckland.

This year marks the 17th time the Supercars Championship will make the trip over to New Zealand. With the dominate performances so far this year from Kiwi’s Shane van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin local fans will have plenty to cheer about as the season draws to close.

Fabian Coulthard was in Auckland today to launch the 2017 ITM Auckland SuperSprint, his favourite Supercars event.

“All the drivers enjoy coming to New Zealand for sure, but for us three Kiwi drivers, coming home and racing at Pukekohe is very special,” said Coulthard.

“Auckland is my home so to race in front of friends and family is fantastic. And the noise from the fans, particularly from the Hill on the front straight, is incredible. It is a feeling like no other.

“Right now with Shane (van Gisbergen) and my Shell-V Power Racing teammate Scott (McLaughlin), the Kiwi boys have had a great start to the year.

“The big PIRTEK Enduro Cup is fast approaching and after that we head to Pukekohe where I know, with the fantastic support from local fans, we can put on a really great show.”

ITM Marketing Manager Chris Boyle said the partnership with the event had grown since ITM first secured naming rights to become a feature of the company’s brand portfolio.

“Being able to continue to support the ITM Auckland Supersprint for another three years was a fantastic opportunity that we couldn’t pass up,” Boyle said.

“As the largest sporting event in New Zealand, with three Kiwi’s showing the Aussies how it’s done, and the tremendous love of motorsport by the ITM store owners and customers, we were excited to be able to bring the race back to Pukekohe.

“The ITM Auckland Supersprint truly has become an event not to miss. ITM is very excited about the future racing and looking forward to the ongoing relationship with Supercars.”

Supercars and the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) are in discussions about the future of the Auckland event.

“New Zealanders are among some of the most passionate and knowledgeable motorsport fans anywhere in the world and we are delighted to showcase Supercars and this great city to a global audience,” said Supercars Managing Director, Matt Braid.

“To have an ongoing partnership with such a fantastic New Zealand company such as ITM is tremendous for the event which is one of the biggest and best on our yearly calendar.”

We’ll have more of the latest Supercars news in the next issue of Auto Action Magazine, on sale Thursday. In the mean time make sure you follow Auto Action on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates.