V8 Supercars keeps New Zealand leg

Supercars Australia has secured the New Zealand leg of its V8 Supercars series for the next seven years.

The future of the Hamilton 400 had been in some doubt owing to slow ticket sales and concerns over its local promoters, though fears were allayed somewhat by a healthy 101,488 attendace over this year's three-day race weekend. V8 Supercars has agreed a deal with Hamilton City Council to take over promotion of the event from 2011 onwards, replacing current promoters Steve Vuleta and Dean Calvert's Caletta Street Management. It will also underwrite the struggling event throughout the seven-year period and will assume all financial risk.

V8 Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard described the Hamilton 400 as "a keystone of our sport", adding: "Over time we will put together the best team on both sides of the Tasman to reinvigorate this event. This event has the potential for enormous growth beyond what is already a highly successful weekend."

The Hamilton 400 joins the Ipswich 300, Townsville 400, Phillip Island 500, Bathurst 1000, Gold Coast 600, Tasmania Challenge, Sandown Challenge and the climactic Sydney 500 in the list of races on the series calendar which are promoted by V8 Supercars.