The Motul HondaCup – as expected – has announced that it intends to form the backbone of its 2013-2014 competition from New Zealand Racing Drivers League events.
The Honda Cup will be fought out over seven racing weekends, and will include a double header event at Manfeild with its South Island counterpart, an enduro event and two rounds with the BNT V8 SuperTourers. The enduro will likely follow the current format by being short (an hour) and with a set of rules designed to be inclusive for all competitors. The Hondas will run with the SuperTourers at the Pukekohe 500 meeting at the end of November and at the first round of the 2014 V8ST championship in February.
Once again classes will be run for 1.6 powered cars, 1.8 litre machines, 2 litre cars, over 2 litre cars and prototype Honda saloons and the best six scores from the seven series rounds on offer will give each driver’s final points tally.
The 2013/2014 season is made up of the following dates and race meetings.
2013
September 28/29, Round 1 – Hampton Downs (NZRDL)
November 30/December 1, Round 2 – Pukekohe 500 (V8ST) day
2014
January 11/12, Round 3 – Taupo Tasman Revival (HRC)
February 19/20, Round 4 – Hampton Downs (V8ST)
March 1/ 2, Round 5 – Manfeild (NZRDL)
April 5/6, Round 6 – Taupo (NZRDL)
May 3/4 , Round 7 – Hampton Downs (NZRDL)
“There’s been quite a bit of comment, but the League offers us exactly what we need,” explained race director Alan Stewart. “It’s a helpful and friendly organisation with very competitive pricing for our competitors, the chance to do something different if we want to over a race weekend and the flexibility to add a couple of extra big ticket rounds, which is where BNT V8 SuperTourers have been very helpful.”
With annual entry fees for racing for the entire season around the $1,600 mark, and race ready cars available from as little as $3500, Motul Honda Cup remains arguably the most accessible form of club motorsport in New Zealand as well as providing a great category for engineers and drivers young and old to show their talents.
The Honda Cup will focus its winter efforts on a driver training and car development day as well as running a Honda Cup class in a selection of winter racing events. There will also be a non-championship ‘Prologue’ round at the Taupo BNT V8 SuperTourer event on September 1st which will slot in between the driver and car development day and the first round of the series at Hampton Downs on September 28 and 29.
