Team Kiwi Racing go alone

Team Kiwi Racing will run in the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series under it’s own control after negotiations to gain technical assistance with Stone Brothers Racing fell through.
It also appears likely that Shane Van Gisbergen, a contracted SBR driver who was on loan to Team Kiwi, will move on, meaning that the All Blacks are now on the lookout for a new driver.

The replacement is likely strongly tipped to be Kayne Scott, a Kiwi who finished third in the Fujitsu V8 series in 2007.

“We needed to step up competitively in the V8 Supercar Championship and those relationships (with FPR and SBR) definitely helped in that process,” said team owner, David John.

“We also had more than our fair share of issues and allegations made against TKR this year, which have been well documented.

“As a result the TKR Board believes we need to be more in control of our own destiny and direction.

“They want a competitive V8 Supercar team but they also want us to be firmly in control of all aspects of our own operation, and they want TKR to return more to its original philosophies of developing New Zealanders into the V8 Supercar Championship at all levels.”

The team has recently purchased a Triple Eight chassis (T8009) that won the 2006 Clipsal 500 Adelaide at the hands of Jamie Whincup, whilst SBR will provide engines for the team.