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Tony owns Taupo, so that can't be the reason. I think there are more strict consent conditions around Highlands as it's ultimately more of an exclusive club track rather than a track that hosts big events. Plus I reckon it would need a bunch of safety upgrades

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

Can't be down to grading. Highlands is Grade 3 like other tracks they head to. Taupo however is Grade 2. Plus Highlands hosts GT's, TCR and Toyota Race Series.

Which I've always thought was a bit sketch especially that back loop through the forest. One wee airborne away from going into the trees

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

Highlands is like twice the distance from a major city then WInton is so I think that's why it wasn't considered. Ideally they'd do a Hampton Downs (better location then Taupo) and Highlands doubleheader so that wouldn't be an issue.

Hampton Downs would be the logical track, it's right at the heart of 70-80% of NZ's population and it's more interesting than Taupo too. I believe there were issues around consent conditions for crowd sizes and also traffic congestion along the main highway that runs past the track (tbh I would have considered it's proxy to the main highway a bonus, but oh well)

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

What are we calling a major city? Winton is the same distance from Melbourne as Highlands is from Dunedin or Queenstown. Otherwise there are equivalent sized towns nearby and equidistant to both circuits.

Considering there have been more championships won by Kiwi's than Australian ones in the last 10 years, we should be doing 2-3 races there minimum.

But they're more likely to consider Singapore or the US or Queensland raceway, over anywhere different or new in NZ.

(I have a soft spot for Highlands, I've been there twice and got to race around there in a Radical in 2021).

Stanaway will be back full time with Grove confirmed

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/08/21/gr ... cars-deal/

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

Really hope he makes more of a go of it this time and doesn't assume just driving fast will keep his seat.

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Just found out I'll be going for a hot lap in the Blanchard car (Cool Drive) the day after the Sandown 500

As expected Tickford has announced they are dropping to two cars for next year (with one moved to the Blanchards and the other not being replaced). Ryan Wood has also been confirmed as Nick Percat's replacement.

Svg crashed in testing today after a brake failure. Luckily it wasn't a massive accident though the front end is wrecked. Hopefully there's no repeat at Sandown or Bathurst.

I wonder if this will fix whatever issues he's been having with the car

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

The Sandown 500 is returning this weekend after a four year absence.

https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/track-schedule-revealed-for-sandown-500s-return/

Here's one of the extra Mustangs that will be running at Sandown and Bathurst (the J. Kostecki/Love car):


Jack Perkins will be running a throwback livery to his dad's 93 Bathurst winner in Super2:


Nick Percat is heading to Matt Stone Racing next year on a two-year deal. This will mean that probably Scott Pye, Todd Hazelwood and Declan Fraser will be out of drives with James Courtney likely getting the last open seat on the grid at Blanchard Racing.

Parity is appalling so far at Sandown

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They haven't really changed that much since the last round so that's not surprising.

They really need more manufacturers. Even if they run as independents like in BTCC and not in an official capacity.

Messy turn 1 in the Porsches

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion

That was a mess and will take some time to deal with

#8 was really lucky not to go over. He was on three different cars in all that.

Yea, he seemed to be at a 45 degree angle for quite a while

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"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped by any army or any government"


3x TBKL rFactor Hillclimb champion