Numbers up as Hamilton farewells V8 supercars

Crowd numbers at the final V8 Supercars event in Hamilton over the weekend were up 11,000 on last year, while organisers are yet to release details on the future of the event in New Zealand.

Event Manager Greg Mosen told Fairfax media that 116,698 people attended the event over the three days, up 11,266 on last year. Mosen credited the increase to the fine weather and an investment in off-track entertainment.

On Thursday night organisers increased the size of one grandstand and installed another to cater for what they expected would be a bumper crowd.

V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane said the event had injected more than NZ$75 million into the New Zealand, Waikato and Hamilton economy over five years, while Mosen estimated it would be well in excess of NZ$100 million.

As a result, Mosen explained that the departure of the race from Hamilton would come at a significant loss for the city, adding "when you walk down the main street of Hamilton over the weekend I think you've seen how many people are in restaurants and all the no vacancy signs that are on the hoteliers on the way into the place.

"Sometimes you don't actually know what you've lost until you've lost it. I think in time there will be a lot of people that will then realise what a shame this is."

Meanwhile Cochrane would not confirm the future of a V8 Supercars event in New Zealand, but said the company was investigating all possible venues.

Cochrane explained "all New Zealand venues require upgrades to accommodate an event of this size and as of today we do not have anything confirmed."

He added that V8 Supercars has held "positive discussions" with the New Zealand Government and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Devwith Pukekohe rumoured to be the most likely next New Zealand home for the race.

Hamilton V8 Crowds:
2008: 170,000
2009: 123,000
2010: 101,488
2011: 105,432
2012: 116,698

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