The Australian V8 Ute Racing Series will take claim to a variety of tracks in 2016 with a long awaited return to the V8 Ute heartland of Symmons Plains in Tasmania and Winton Raceway in Victoria as well as the scenic Philip Island event, they will also revisit the popular street circuits and premier events, Clipsal 500, Townsville 400, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600 with an option for an eighth event yet to be determined, all rounds will be televised on Fox Sports and Network Ten.
So as not to disappoint Fans, the Series will kick off at their inaugural track Adelaide Parklands at the Clipsal 500 3-6 March, followed by a quick turnaround across the Tasman, to the Symmons Plains event in Tasmania 1–3 April.
The V8 Utes will then head to Phillip Island (1-17 April) for the first time in 6 years Category Manager of SPHERIX Mr Bill West is pleased that the Category will race at the iconic raceway once again.
“We’ve had a very similar calendar the past 3 -4 years and it will be awesome to head back to the likes of Phillip Island, Winton and Symmons Plains in Tasmania, the Utes have such a great following at these places and it will be great to bring the show back to them,” said West.
Winton Raceway will mark the half-way point of the Series and after a three year sabbatical, Operations Manager of Winton Motor Raceway, Mr Wayne Williams is excited to welcome the V8 Utes back to Kelly country.
“Absolutely am I glad to have the Utes back, I’m going to put a lot of promotion behind it all, everyone knows I’ve had a lot of involvement with the Utes in the past and since I started working here the constant question is when are we going to get the Utes back here and Bill (West) and I have done it,” said Williams.
Following the Winton round the Utes will head up to some of the most exciting street races in the country with Round 5 at the Townsville 400 (8 –10 July) round 6 will thrill the crowds at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (6-9 October), with round 7 once again taking place on the streets of Surfers Paradise (21 – 23 October) at the Gold Coast 600. For round 8 news you will just have to hold your breath a while longer.
Not only has the exciting Calendar been announced but the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) have extended the Australian V8 Ute Racing Company Management Agreement (CMA) for Utes and Light Truck race vehicles to run the existing Platform exclusively for 2016/17 with an option to introduce a production based SUV Utility alongside the current cars during that period if appropriate.In addition they have been granted the option to take up exclusive rights to a new CMA effective 2018 for 3 years (with option), for this production based SUV Utility.
CAMS General Manager of Motorsport – Mr Michael Smith is pleased to continue the long relationship with the Australian V8 Ute Racing Series and sees an exciting future ahead.
“We’re obviously very pleased negotiations have been concluded, the Ute category has been one of our strongest categories for a very long time and I’m looking forward to extending the agreement and with the extension of the evolution platform as time goes by,” explained Smith.
See below full Race Calendar for 20161 Clipsal 500 Adelaide Adelaide Parklands, SA Mar 3 - 62 Tyrepower Tasmania Supersprint Symmons Plains April 1 - 33 WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint* Phillip Island, VIC April 15 - 174 Winton SuperSprint Winton Raceway, VIC May 20 - 225 Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 Reid Park, QLD Jul 8 - 106 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama, NSW Oct 6 - 97 Castrol Gold Coast 600 Surfers Paradise, QLD Oct 21 - 238 TBA
