2 time NZV8 Champion Andy Booth and the AV8 Motorsport racing team have today formally announced their commitment to entering at least one car in the exciting new V8 SuperTourer series due to hit NZ race tracks in February 2012. Booth is naturally excited about the prospect of getting behind the wheel of one of the new, purpose built, 7 litre monsters and providing the NZ public with a whole new level of motorsport entertainment.“This is the most exciting development in New Zealand motorsport since I began racing 20 years ago” enthused Booth, from Auckland’s North Shore.$0$0$0$0$0“After a decade competing in the NZV8 series, including 2 championship wins, we are ready for a further challenge, something new, and SuperTourers is exactly the right thing at the right time for New Zealand motorsport. These cars are faster, the racing will be more exciting, but most importantly, future proofed”$0$0$0$0$0The inaugural V8 SuperTourer series will run from February through to October 2012 at tracks around New Zealand. The custom built “control” chassis’ have been designed similar to an Australian V8 Supercar, and are powered by fuel injected 7 litre V8 engines with fly by wire technology. The chassis easily allows fitment of new exterior body panels as the relevant road car designs evolve, and has the potential to accommodate other brands and body styles in the future. The first series will be dressed in either Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon bodies.$0$0$0$0$0Booth and AV8 Motorsport business partner Wayne ‘Jacko” Anderson have been directly involved in the creation of the new racing category, the brain child of Anderson and fellow touring car stalwarts Mark Petch and Garry Pedersen. The prototype SuperTourer car, to be used for initial track testing and development for the series, is currently taking shape in the AV8 Motorsport workshops in West Auckland and is due to hit the track for the first time in the coming weeks. $0$0$0$0$0Production chassis’s for the race series are due to arrive with teams later this year and Booth say’s he’d be keen to replicate the multi-car operation AV8 has traditionally run in the NZV8s.$0$0“We have an order for 1 new VE Commodore Supertourer chassis and are currently evaluating options to run an additional car...or cars for the right drivers”$0$0$0$0$0The focus is not all to the future though with the final round of the current NZV8 Championship taking place on the streets of Hamilton next weekend as part of the ITM400. Andy Booth and the AV8 Motorsport prepared Rock Fm Commodore currently sit 4th on the points ladder and a strong run at Hamilton may just see them elevated into the top 3 in the final standings.$0$0$0$0

$0A $22 steering joint cost Andy Booth, driving The RockCommodore, any chance of challenging for a top 3 championship position at round6 of the BNTV8 series held at Taupo Motorsport Park over the weekend. Thetie-rod pin snapped little more than 1 lap from the finish of race 2 as thetwo-time champion held a comfortable 6^th position ahead of currentNZV8 champ Craig Baird sending the #23 Holden straight off the track intoretirement.$0$0Booth started the weekend qualifying 8^th inSaturday’s top ten shootout continuing his record of making every qualifyingshootout this season, the crew later discovered a faulty front shock absorberso confidence was high for much improved race pace on Sunday. $0$0Race 1 started with the expected biff and bash into turn 1with several cars getting turned around in front of the field. The RockCommodore settled into 6^th position as part of a trio of carschasing down the fast starting John Penny. On the second lap Booth shot downthe inside of Penny into turn 1 but locked the rear brakes and ran wide, losingthe position plus 2 more. The order remained unchanged for the rest of the 10lap race and Booth crossed the line in 8^th position.$0$0The ill fated race 2 started well with Booth moving up into6^th position after more 1^st corner niggle. The first lapjostling created a 2 second gap between the lead group and The Rock car, withimproved handling Booth was able to match the pace of the lead group but couldnot close the gap. Half way though lap 9, the steering joint snapped going throughturn 7 and Booth’s race was done.$0$0“I couldn’t believe it when the steering broke but hey,that’s motor racing” Booth said after the race “We had ball joint break on thesame corner of the car in practice so it may well be that the steeringcomponent was damaged at that time but really it’s just one of those things”$0$0The opportunity to end the weekend on a high came with the20 lap final race and Booth was determined to make the most of it. After chasinginitial race leader Nick Ross for 6 laps The Rock Commodore seized the leadwhen Ross was slow onto the straight. Booth then lead for the next 6 lapswhilst engaging in a thrilling wheel to wheel battle with emerging star ScottMcLaughlin who had been devastatingly quick all weekend. The battle had thecrowd on their feet for several laps but with the grips level on his carstarting to fade Booth struggled to hold off the Supercheap Auto car ofMcLaughlin and ultimately had to relinquish the lead after a fierce brakingduel at the end of the main straight.$0$0Despite his best efforts with deteriorating car speed Boothcould not close back up to McLaughlin and had to settle for 2^ndwhilst McLaughlin went on to become the youngest ever winner of an NZV8 race atage 17.$0$0“The set up changes for the last race worked against us butit was great for the team to get on the podium after the disappointment of race2”$0$0“The fight with young Scott was great fun, he’s here (in theNZV8s) to learn door to door racing so I thought I’d give him a few lessons indefensive lines! “ quipped Booth, adding “Seriously though, he did a great joband is certainly the find of the year for NZ Motorsport” $0$0Coming into the weekend 5^th overall Booth hadbeen totally focussed on scoring enough points to be able to fight for a top 3final standing after next month’s final round on the street of Hamilton. Thezero points haul from race 2 all but extinguished that hope so the focus willnow switch to achieving the best individual race results possible at Hamilton.$0$0 $0$0The final round of the BNT V8 Championship takes place onthe streets of Hamilton at the ITM400 on April 15-17$0

$0Two-time NZV8 champion Andy Booth, heads to Taupo Motorsport Park thisweekend for the penultimate round of the BNT V8’s with a single-minded focus, atop 3 championship position.$0$0After some early season setbacks Booth, driving the #23 The Rock Holden, hastenaciously raced his way back up the points ladder to be lying 5th overallheading into this weekend’s Battery Town 200. With only 164 points across thetop 5 and 450 points on offer, there is everything to play for in the final 2rounds of the championship. $0$0“We just to have to go 110% in every remaining race, a top 3 finish is a veryrealistic goal right now and whilst 1st maybe a somewhat mathematical chance,anything can and often does happen in the BNT V8 series!” says Booth, based onAuckland’s North Shore$0$0“Qualifying is where we need to step up” admits Booth, “The Rock Holden isracing really well but you’re just making work for yourself if you have to starttoo far back. We’ve made the top 10 shootout every round this season but youhave to be up on the front 2 rows in every race to challenge for wins. That’swhat we need to focus on this weekend”$0$0Booth and his AV8 Motorsport team have enjoyed plenty of success at the Taupocircuit in the past and will draw on all that experience come qualifying onSaturday afternoon. The long, twisting nature of the circuit should also allowfor some close, exciting and tactical races, something Andy Booth has provenhimself to excel at time and time again.$0$0This weekend will be the first BNTV8 event since the tragic and devastatingevents in Christchurch and they will of course be at the forefront of everyone’sminds. The Rock Holden will be joining the family of motorsport competitors insupporting the people of Christchurch and running special stickers on the racecars to promote The Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. $0$0“We have many friends, family and crew members based in Christchurch. Thedevastation and humanitarian toll is on a scale that I still cannot fathom. Thisis one small but practical way we as part of the wider motorsport community canhelp the people of Canterbury”$0$0The weekend’s program for the BNTV8’s comprises 2 practice sessions onSaturday followed by the two-part qualifying session (all cars then top tenshootout) at 3.40. Sunday is race day with 3 action packed V8 races at 9.55am,12.50pm and then the full reverse grid race 3 at 4.15pm$0$0 $0$0Full delayed coverage of all 3 BNTV8 races will shown on TV3 from 2pm onSunday.$0