The Silverstone Race to the Sky will be televised live for the first time on Sky Sport on Easter Sunday (April 11) in a groundbreaking move for the international hillclimb event.
Promoter Grant Aitken says the action will be screened throughout New Zealand, for four hours between 1.00 -5.00pm, and it takes the event to a whole new level.
“This is fantastic for the Race to the Sky. There is such a strong following out there and with the chance of some international exposure it is a real milestone for the event.”
The deal with Sky Sport has been facilitated by TAB Sports Production, whose links with the Race to the Sky go back to 2001, when the company produced its first programme of the event. It was judged the best sports production at the prestigious Qantas Media Awards the same year.
Senior Producer Glen Broomhall says since the making of the award-winning programme, the production has grown significantly to the point that it will go live for the first time this year.
“It’s certainly taking it up a notch and there is also international interest, particularly from Australia and Japan, in taking highlights packages of the racing on Easter Sunday. There has been such a short lead in time this year that it was too difficult for other countries to take the whole programme live, but we hope that will happen next year.”
Logistically, providing live television coverage of the event will be a challenge.
“It is really extensive,” says Glen. “Seventeen camera coverage including helicopter and live in car cameras. Everything will need to link together.”
Forty-five crew are required to manage the live feed which is ‘tenfold’ more demanding than producing the programme previously.
“Everything takes a big leap. We need more people, more crew and it is obviously a lot more demanding to make it happen live. It is a big event for motorsport and for us.”
Sky Network Director of Sport, Kevin Cameron says motorsport is a strong niche market and they are pleased to have the opportunity to screen the Race to the Sky live.
“Sky has a big focus on live coverage because that’s what our subscribers say they want. This is a special event and we are confident we will get some solid viewership around the country.”
The event is expected to attract an even stronger following this year because it is a memorial to former icon rally driver, Possum Bourne.
Possum died last year, from injuries he received in a road accident on the Snow Farm Road, the day before the Race to the Sky.
He was one of the Race to the Sky’s most loyal competitors, and there is an added bonus this year, with the appearance of one time World Rally Championship driver Kenneth Eriksson of Sweden, driving Possum’s former WRC Subaru. New Zealand racing hero Greg Murphy is also competing for the first time which will be a draw card for motorsport enthusiasts.
“We have all the ingredients for some tremendous spectator viewing,” says Grant. “All our regular top drivers, including ‘Monster’ Tajima and Rod Millen will be there and the interest from competitors is so strong this year that the event is oversubscribed and we now have a waiting list.”
The 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky is scheduled for Easter Weekend, April 10 and 11 at The Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley, close to Queenstown and Wanaka.
Gates open from 6.30am on Easter Saturday and 7.00am Sunday. Gate admission is $35 per adult, child under 14 free, Gold Pass $160
