The New Generation NZV8

• Transition plan for new generation car into BNT V8s - (12/12/2011)

  The BNT NZV8 Championship will take on a new look for next season as the new generation championship car is transitioned into the competition.

• FG Falcon Uncovered at Speedshow - (23/07/2011)

  The eagerly awaited new generation NZV8 was unveiled on the TMC stand in front of a huge crowd on Saturday.

• New car planned for NZV8s championship - (21/05/2011)

  MotorSport New Zealand and the NZV8s category management have reached agreement on the way forward for the category.

The New Generation NZV8

Taking the Gold Star Championship NZV8 into the future

The current scene

The healthy Tasman wide rivalry between Holden and Ford motorsport fans has thrust NZV8 production sedan racing from its origin in 1995 to become the prime MotorSport Gold Star NZ Championship category of today, by providing close and spectacular racing provided by drivers of high ability.
The NZV8 company presents MotorSport NZ with a professionally managed competition package based on the ownership, by accredited entrants, of the rights to up to 31 grid positions for each championship event. NZV8 Co. also supplies entrants with controlled parts, provides access to potential sponsorship, also advice and monitoring of technical specifications. Any profits after expenses involved in running the category are shared with entrants.
To maintain success, any production car racing category needs to present the latest vehicle shapes to fans and sponsors alike to avoid events becoming visually stale. Vehicle design trends and any changes in global sourcing must also be anticipated if event entrants are not to be forced into short lead time changes that adversely affect their investment in racing machinery.
In anticipation of major product configuration changes over the next decade, it is apparent that the time has come to step away from the production Ford or Holden body shell as the basis for NZV8 competition. The current venerable V8 engines have also reached a development peak that forces high maintenance costs and which need disproportionately high expenditure for any fractional increase in performance.
Changes in market trends, politically motivated or not, may make it desirable to give the opportunity for other vehicle manufacturers to join the category and present their shapes and brands to an extended range of enthusiastic fans.

The new generation NZV8 - Gold Star Championship Status

The governing body accrediting the NZ Gold Star Touring Car Championship status is MotorSport NZ. MSNZ must approve all changes proposed by NZV8 to the Category.
The above Championship is accorded to the current model NZV8 cars and the Company will be looking to retain this Championship status with the new generation cars.
NZV8 will support MSNZ in the establishment of the new generation category and the provision of resources required to operate the Championship.

The new generation NZV8 - Objectives

These requirements need to be met in a manner that is affordable for both those wanting to continue their investment in NZV8s and those wanting to join what needs to remain a dynamic and entertaining spectacle. The NZV8 company has consulted with their stakeholders to come up with a new formula that is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, in essence:
1. To maintain the category giving highly competitive racing at reasonable cost.
2. Develop and produce for sale a NZV8 rolling chassis, as a controlled part, designed to have a ten year championship lifespan.
3. This chassis to allow ready installation of various approved engine and gearbox combinations, linked to the chosen Ford or Holden large car, or other brands progressively approved for the Category.
4. The chassis to allow ready and economic panel changes to keep appearance up with the latest in the
market place, even brand changes linked to sponsorship resourcing or other reason.
5. The tune-ability of both chassis and engine combinations be sufficiently challenging to give opportunity
for enhancement of both driver and team competence relating to a modern race-car.
6. The calibre of the Championship be sufficient to act as a stepping stone for drivers [and teams where
possible] to compete in international touring car events.
7. The chassis design will allow for future installation of air jack and dry-break systems, making practicable future endurance racing events in addition to currently planned sprint races.

The new generation NZV8 - Brand protection

The new generation plan will take effect from and including the 2012/13 racing season. The NZV8 brand will be protected in the following way:
• As viewed by the fans, the body shape will be clearly identifiable as a Ford or Holden large car manufactured in Australia. The design allows for the body appearance to be updated in pace with style evolution, with either no or only superficial change to the base rolling chassis.
• Engines will be from the same global design source, that is a GM series engine for a Holden and a Ford engine for a Ford. Each engine design type and its state of tune will be homologated by NZV8. Only fuel injected engines that are fully performance programmable will be eligible to ensure that reasonable parity between brands is achievable.
• Within the ten year life span, invitations may be issued to other manufacturers to compete in the NZV8 formula with their own body style, using the formula’s common rolling chassis and an NZV8 approved engine of their own choice.

The new generation NZV8 - Targeted Performance and Estimated Cost

NZV8 considers that it is vital that costs are not allowed to escalate outside the reach of current stakeholders in general, indeed the amortized cost per year over the ten year life span of the new generation NZV8 is targeted to be less than the average annual cost to stakeholders over the past five years. Target costs [excl GST] are:
1. Rolling chassis - $65,000. Includes Ford or Holden bracket mounted body parts, door shuts, rear guards ready to accept body panels and bolt on parts, front and rear suspension, rear axle complete, steering column and rack, pedal box.
2. Turn key vehicle utilizing all new components - $150,000.
3. A turn key vehicle assembled by an owner builder using existing mechanical parts should be achievable for $100,000.
4. To ease up-front costs, NZV8 regulations will allow the use of current engine, gearbox and brake components in the new chassis for the 2012/13 racing season.
5. Running costs are expected to be in the region of $70 – 80K per season.
6. New engines and gearboxes will be allowed from 2012/13, with new engines tuned for parity with 2011/12 vehicle performance as necessary.
7. 18” wheels are specified, to allow the use of modern racing tyres.

The new generation NZV8 - Integration of existing vehicles

Current NZV8 cars will be eligible to compete in the 2012/13 season, in parallel with new generation NZV8 vehicles.
The following optional enhancements will be allowed: Bolt on sequential gear-shift and new carburettor.

The new generation NZV8 - Development

A prototype rolling chassis is under construction. A complete car will be built on behalf of NZV8s Ltd.
This unit, after its initial testing and tuning program, is planned to conduct demonstration and development runs at 2011/12 season NZV8 championship events.

The New Generation NZV8 (PDF DOCUMENT)

The New Generation NZV8...
...Taking the Gold Star Championship NZV8 into the future