The 2015 ITM 500 Auckland will go down in the record books as a huge success. The weather over the weekend was just what the punters, and drivers alike, were after, and, as such, the stands were packed all event long, with more than 116,554 people attending.
V8 Supercars Chief Executive James Warburton said the attendance was up for each day of this year’s three-day event. There were 33,451 attendees on Friday, 42,978 on Saturday, and 40,125 on Sunday.
“We are delighted with the increases in this year’s attendance across each day of the event. It’s another endorsement of V8 Supercars and the great entertainment it offers fans, on and off the track,” he said.
“I want to thank Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and all our partners — in particular ITM — for their support of this event. Our teams and drivers love coming to Pukekohe and racing at this historic circuit. I also want to thank the people of New Zealand who are among the most knowledgeable and passionate motorsport fans in the world.”
ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley (see our recent interview here) said: “It’s been an outstanding weekend of world-class motorsport at New Zealand’s spiritual home of motor racing, Pukekohe Park Raceway.
“V8 Supercars is a jewel in Auckland’s major events crown. The on-track thrills and spills, combined with brilliant weather, made for a fantastic weekend of sporting entertainment. We look forward to welcoming the teams and fans back again next year.”
The Bottle-O team’s David Reynolds managed to take the event win after a high-speed tyre failure in race two of the weekend saw Craig Lowndes DNF, dashing his championship hopes.
As a result of the win, Reynolds has jumped to second place in the championship behind his Prodrive Racing teammate Mark Winterbottom.
Reynolds now believes he can challenge for the championship win, and potentially take the number-one plate to his new-for-2016 team, Erebus Motorsport.
“There’s 750 points up for grabs, and I’m 287 behind — not that I’m counting,” said Reynolds.
The next round of the championship takes place at Phillip Island, Melbourne, on November 20–22.
