A NZ$6.6M ($5.4M) upgrade "has been unveiled" for Auckland, New Zealand's Pukekohe Park Raceway ahead of the return of the V8 Supercars in '13, according to Nick Walker of NEWSTALKZB.co.nz. The upgrade will begin next month and will bring the venue up to a category two standard set by governing body FIA. Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, the Ministry of Economic Development and V8 Supercars are contributing NZ$2.2M ($1.8M) each to the upgrade. ATEED spokesperson Jennah Wootten said that the organization will be putting NZ$10.6M ($8.6) into the V8s over the next five years. Wootten: "The return on that for us is around NZ$35M ($28.5M) worth of new money coming into the economy, so that's a great return and something that we're really excited to start working on" (NEWSTALKZB.co.nz, 10/15).
IT'S IN THE DETAILS: The APNZ reported that the work will include "improved safety barriers and some resurfacing." There will also be "major changes to the pit area." Three additional turns will be built into the track before the hairpin on the back straight. The upgrade will also include the addition of "overhead pedestrian bridges and improved viewing areas." The work is "necessary to improve the FIA safety level for the circuit" (APNZ, 10/15).
