By Shaun Summerfield
Just a fortnight after the V8 Supercars secured a new home at Pukekohe they've moved to stop their drivers racing in New Zealand, and top Kiwis Fabian Coulthard and Shane van Gisbergen have pulled out of the local V8 Supertourer series.
While the V8 Supercars were scrapping on the streets of Townsville, a battle plan was being formulated in the series boardroom.
Three days after Auckland pledged $10 million to V8 Supercars the Australian series moved to stop their drivers racing in New Zealand Supertourer series.
“I don’t know what’s gone on between the two factions but it sounds like a couple of boys fighting in the schoolyard to me,” says Supertourer driver Andy Booth.
In a statement Supercars said: "If a driver commits to a fulltime, professional career with a team in the category, V8 Supercars would prefer that it is their complete focus, on and off the track.
"This is in line with all elite sporting bodies where, as a general rule, athletes do not compete in other codes or competitions, particularly during the primary season of competition.”
Comments from Supertourer boss Mark Petch are though to have sparked the row after he suggested that council money would better spent on the Kiwi series.
“I think they should be looking after the ratepayers, and that would be to spend as little as they can on an international event,” said Petch.
The cost will now be felt by fans, with Supercar drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Fabian Coulthard pulling out of the Supertourer endurance series.
Andy Booth's Supercar team mate Tony D'Alberto has ignored the warnings - but he could be a rare sight on New Zealand tracks.
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