More than 15-years ago New Zealand’s top class of motorsport was divided courtesy of the previous NZV8s and a new breakaway category known as the V8 SuperTourers.
New Zealand motorsport in the early-2010s was politically charged when team owners from NZV8s forming the V8 SuperTourers breakaway to raise the level of locally.
Leading the new category were team owners Mark Petch, Garry Pederson and Wayne Anderson due to discontent regarding Motorsport New Zealand commercial arm TMC.
PACE innovations designed the chassis the V8 SuperTourers used as a direction connection to V8 Supercars allowing significant crossover.
Regulations ensured parity between the two initial bodies of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, while a stock 7.0-litre LS V8 further lowered costs.
During its life, 24 chassis were built excluding a Hyundai Sonata prototype and the original prototype.
While V8 SuperTourers was beginning to take shape, NZV8s was doing likewise with its TLX regulations and funnily enough, both faction revealed the concepts at the Auckland SpeedShow in 2011.
V8 SuperTourers attracted some star power in regard to drivers including Scott McLaughlin, Steven Richards, Greg Murphy, Andre Heimgartner, Jonny Reid, Craig Baird, Daniel Gaunt, John McIntyre, Angus Fogg and Ant Pederson just to name a few.
Running both Sprint and Endurance Championships at all of New Zealand’s leading circuits, the first V8 SuperTourer titles in 2012 went to McLaughlin.
Building further, more Australian drivers came across including future Supercars stars Cam Waters, Chaz Mostert, Tony D’Alberto, Dale Wood, Nick Percat and more alongside Shane Van Gisbergen.
In the end, Murphy was the successful driver by winning two championships and 22 races during the four year stint of V8 SuperTourers.
Simon Evans won the last season in 2014-2015 before it all ended.
Court proceedings between the two entities continued throughout the life of V8 SuperTourers and after as well.
In the end, both series were combined to form the NZ Touring Cars, which was limited support-wise and has now turned to TA2 as a way to build the leading category back up.