So Speed Works, the organiser’s of the New Zealand summer series of motorsport, won’t be bringing their 2020/21 show to the South Island. Instead, they will run five events using North Island circuits – Pukekohe Park, Hampton Downs, Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park (Taupo) and the Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon (Feilding). The southern gnashing of teeth and hurling of criticism has died down which now leaves the question, ‘Who, today, would want to be an event organiser?
Speed Works Events Championship Series 2020-21 Calendar:
Round 1 – Hampton Downs, October 31-November 1, 2020
Round 2 – Pukekohe, December 5-6, 2020
Round 3 – Hampton Downs, January 23-24, 2021
Round 4 – Manfeild, February 13-14, 2021
Round 5 – Pukekohe, March 6-7, 2021
Round 6 – Taupo, March 27-28, 2021
Being a ‘one-eyed’ Cantabrian, it is a kick in the guts. How can a national motorsport title be contested only in just one Island?
Given the current COVID-19 situation that NZ, our neighbours and the world faces, we need to consider the bigger picture. We have a major decline in the economy which in turn affects sponsors and budgets. There is too much uncertainty to make a large commitment to any event that could be curtailed in a matter of hours because of the Government raising COVID-19 levels, restricting public movement and attendance.
Personally, I would not like to be in the shoes of any event organiser. Whether it is Speed Works, Motorsport NZ, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ or even organising a local school fair. The risks are the same. All the effort that goes in to arranging an event could be for nothing.
Given the inputs required, manpower, volunteers, Clubs, hospitality and financial , there is just too much risk involved.
On the face of it, while the Speed Works events will be North Island based, there is nothing stopping any national series from competing in both Islands’. We may well see the NZ Formula Ford Championship and NZ SuperTruck rounds in the South. Currently we have the Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series taking place leading up to the NZ Endurance title at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell 7 November.
While back in late July, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand announced five dates for their 2021 series, we still wait for confirmation of venues, drivers and whether it will actually go ahead. A decision is expected by the end of October. This could be pivotal to whether we have a summer of motorsport. We may or may not see international drivers. It may be likely that if the series goes ahead, it will be North Island only circuits that are used. There is a likelihood of the field being dramatically reduced with only NZ drivers taking to the grid. Or, there may be no 2021 series at all.
They say in life that if you expect nothing, then you won’t be disappointed. What we do know is that with the current COVID environment it may be better to expect nothing. As one commentator said, ‘Better to have some motorsport (in the North Island) than to have none at all.’
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