Supercars stay in Pukekohe for 2017

New Zealand Supercars driver Fabian Coulthard is promising that this year's Pukekohe round will be more exciting than in 2016.

Last year there were two 100km races on the Saturday and Sunday, with no pit stops for fuel or tyres.

It resulted in boring processional racing, with no tactics and little overtaking as the cars usually finished in the same order as they qualified.

There can be serious ramifications for anyone who goes off the road at the 7km Ram Paddock Road Gravel Sprint which was held in North Canterbury again recently. There are often high speeds and at times big drops, meaning coming off the road will usually have big consequences. Having 7kms to remember, someone usually does fall off.  2017 was no different.

As much as the racer in me yearned to ‘send it’ on our return to Fuji for the second time this SUPER GT season, we took a more measured approach this time around after a few mediocre results in the Gulf Racing Porsche.

This is more a case of mentality than anything, though the lessons learned at previous races in vehicle setup, race strategy and tyre management all factored into our fifth place finish and a handy points haul ahead of the big one; the last ever Suzuka 1000km (this race reverts to a 300km format next year).

Kiwi rally fans have for many years enjoyed watching the exploits of Hayden Paddon in the World Rally Championship. While Paddon has worked extremely hard to succeed at the highest level he has also fulfilled a desire to give back to the sport that has given him so many great opportunities by establishing the Paddon Rally Foundation designed to assist New Zealand rallying at all levels.