Hot on the heels of Australia’s own V8 formula, New Zealand launched its own in the early-1990s where it replicated the success of the original.
Launched as TraNZam Lights in 1996/97, it was awarded New Zealand Touring Car Championship status immediately as at the turn of the millennium entries eclipsed 40 at many events.
Visiting all the major tracks in New Zealand, the NZV8s category focused on cost containment and control to ensure parity in the Holden vs Ford battle. Although technologically the category was less sophisticated than Supercars, it provided action-packed racing due to this as the NZV8s had limited grip and braking capabilities providing a challenging experience.
Running sprint races was another cost containment measure as even some Supercars drivers made the trip to compete including David Besnard, Luke Youlden, Jason Bargwanna and Cameron McLean have raced against some of the best New Zealand has to offer.
Drivers including Kayne Scott, John McIntyre, Angus Fogg, Andy Booth, Paul Manuell, Mark Pedersen and the late Ashley Stitchbury have all been crowned champions in the class.
Take up of the latest model was delayed compared to Australia, but the competition was just as fierce.
A change of regulations similar to the Car of The Future regulations for Supercars debuted in 2013 opening up the category to new brands and updating the aging field.
In the background, there was another category named SuperTourers taking the attention and the leading drivers moved to that class.
V8NZs welcomed Toyota via Richards Team Motorsport as two Holden VE Commodores and a Ford Falcon added to the older specification machinery, with a Nissan added by Nick Ross during the 2014-15 season.
As it turned out, the SuperTourers joined the NZV8s in a combined field for 2015-16 leading to bigger fields and greater competition.
This lasted one season as the field fell away as not even the likes of now established Supercars driver Andre Heimgartner attracted drivers to the field and Tim Edgell secured the final title in 2020/21.
It was announced soon after the TA2 regulations will be used for the NZV8s heading into the future.