[RaceTime]

TKR BACK IN CONTROL

New Zealand's very own V8 Supercar team, Team Kiwi Racing have announced they will be returning to their own devises as from the next round of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship after a recent full days meeting with their sponsors.

After progressing well ahead of everyone's expectation in the first two seasons of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship the New Zealand based team agreed at the request of Holden Motorsport to form a strategic alliance with one of the top Holden factory backed V8 Supercar teams, Garry Rogers Motorsport.

In theory the relationship between GRM and TKR should have assisted both teams with the additional data being brought to the table by two parties.

In addition the extra technical support on top of the data that was to be offered to TKR by GRM was expected to see the Kiwi team move forward in the Championship this year quicker than if they continued to operate on their own which was why Holden Motorsport requested TKR to establish such a relationship, but that has not been the case.

With new testing and data sharing rules implemented earlier this year which has stopped teams from sharing data between each other the benefits of a multiple car association between TKR and GRM no longer applied.

This as a result left TKR leasing a car from GRM only (when they already have two of their own TKR cars sitting in their own shed) instead of receiving the benefits of sharing data with GRM under the current rules.

"We have given the association between TKR and GRM a fair try since the beginning of the year under the current rulings and it simply does not allow either of our teams to benefit from and or achieve what we set out to do"

"Therefore there is no point in outlaying additional funds for no further benefit and or performance gains than what we can achieve on our own at this point of time" Says Team Owner David John.

TKR will now utilise the funding put aside to secure the association with GRM into the development of their own cars until they can take delivery of the new VY which GRM has advised will be available approximately round 9 or 10 of the Championship.

This has been put back from TKR's initial mid season expectation.

Between now and the arrival of the teams VY, Team Kiwi Racing will run the identical car that Jason Richards drove for the team last year at the next two rounds of the Championship at Winton and Perth before swapping over to the teams newer Perkins 036 Chassis which has been fully rebuilt with upgrades for the Darwin round of the Championship.

"All we want to do at Winton is show we are no worse off utilising our own cars and expertise than what we have been able to achieve so far this year while "

"At the same time we want to maximise the Championship points on offer at Winton and Perth so we can stay within the top 20 of the championship ready for the arrival of our 036 chassis which will be ready to go from the Darwin round on until our new VY is ready for delivery later this year" - Says Team Manager Martin Collins.

With the implementation of additional expertise to support TKR's new direction recently and those who have brought further valuable experience and knowledge to the team at the beginning of the season, Team Kiwi Racing are looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I want to make it clear that although TKR are disappointed with the results we have achieved so far this year there are no hard feelings towards GRM"

"This is a situation created by the change of rules which we except happen sometimes and we now need to get our own show back on track and do the best we possibly can for our sponsors and supporters as we continue to grow TKR both now and for the future" - Says Team Owner David John