2019–20 NZ Touring Cars Championship

2019–20 NZ Touring Cars Championship
Previous: 2018–19 Next: 2020–21

The 2019–20 NZ Touring Cars Championship (known for commercial reasons as the 2019–20 BNT V8s Championship) will be the twenty-first season of the series, and the fifth under the NZ Touring Cars name. The field consists of two classes racing on the same grid. Class one featured both V8ST and NZV8 TLX cars. Class two consisted of older NZV8 TL cars. There is also a third class run for vehicles ineligible for points. The series' defending champions are Jack Smith for Class One, and Justin Ashwell for the V8 Lites class (renamed from Class Two).

Teams and drivers

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All teams are based and registered in New Zealand.

Team Car No Drivers Rounds
Richards Team Motorsport Toyota Camry XV50 6   Alexandra Whitley[1] 1–2
Concept Motorsport Nissan Altima L33 007   Nick Ross 1–2
Phillips Motorsport Ford FG Falcon 43   Brayden Phillips 1–2
Rob Wallace Racing Holden VE Commodore 51   Rob Wallace[2] 1–2
Lathrope Racing Ford FG Falcon 73   Brad Lathrope[2] 1–2
Hamilton Motorsports Holden VE Commodore 84   Lance Hughes 1–2
85   Andre Heimgartner[3] 1–2
V8 Lites
Thirsty Liquor Ford BF Falcon 18   Shane Whitley 1
Precision Concrete & Paving Holden VZ Commodore 25   Justin McIlroy 1–2
Holden VZ Commodore 30   Murray Brook 1
Ford BF Falcon 80   Tony Rutherford 1
Holden VZ Commodore 82   Ted Jarvis 1
Nigel Karl Racing Ford BF Falcon 172   Nigel Karl 1
Open
McDonald Kerbing Specialist Holden VE Commodore 50   Blair McDonald 1–2
4H Investments- Auto Garage Holden VE Commodore 57   Eric Hennephof 1–2
Collins Motorsport Ford Mustang S550 77   Sam Collins 1–2

Driver changes

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Andre Heimgartner will return to the series to drive with Hamilton Motorsports. Chelsea Herbert was originally slated to drive with the team, but withdrew after announcing her plans to compete in the Toyota Racing Series.[3]

Calendar

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The calendar was announced on April 30, 2019.[4] The calendar was later revised, removing the South Island rounds citing issues surrounding cost.[5]

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team V8 Lites Winner Open Winner
2019
NC R1 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe, Auckland Region
14 September   Nick Chester   Simon Evans   Nick Chester Chesters Racing Field combined for non-championship round
R2 15 September   Simon Evans   Nick Chester Chesters Racing
R3   Simon Evans   Nick Chester Chesters Racing
1 R1 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe, Auckland Region
30 November   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsports   Shayne Whitley   Sam Collins
R2 1 December   Nick Ross   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsports   Justin McIlroy   Sam Collins
R3 Race abandoned due to adverse weather conditions.
2020
2 R1 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe, Auckland Region
8 February   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsports   Justin McIlroy   Sam Collins
R2 9 February   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsports   Justin McIlroy   Sam Collins
R3   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsports   Justin McIlroy   Sam Collins
3 R1 Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon
Feilding, Manawatū District
15 February   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsport   Brock Timperley   Sam Collins
R2 16 February   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsport   Brock Timperley   Sam Collins
R3   Andre Heimgartner   Andre Heimgartner Hamilton Motorsport   Brock Timperley   Blair McDonald
4 R1 Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
Hampton Downs, North Waikato
28 March
R2 29 March
R3
5 R1 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe, Auckland Region
25 April
R2 26 April
R3

References

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  1. ^ "ALEXANDRA WHITLEY GETS BNT V8S BERTH WITH RTM". 22 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "20-car grid confirmed for BNT V8s season opener". Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "ANDRÉ HEIMGARTNER RETURNS TO BNT V8S". 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Speed Works Events pull big punches with provisional calendar". 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. ^ "BNT V8s Announce Revised Calendar". 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
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