Specialist New Zealand company to manage ITM 500 Auckland

V8 Supercars has appointed one of New Zealand's most experienced event management companies to oversee the country's largest annual sporting and entertainment event, the ITM 500 Auckland at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

The Long Run, which has delivered high profile and hugely successful events including the Auckland Marathon and FIM New Zealand Speedway Grand Prix, have been appointed to manage the event including operations, sales and sponsorship.

The company built the Auckland Marathon into a world class marathon event voted as one of the top 10 city marathons in the world in 2014 by World Running. The Long Run is headed by well-known Directors Stephen Brown, Richard Lindroos and Scott Newman.

As New Zealand's sole stop in the V8 Supercars Championship, the ITM 500 Auckland is the biggest annual sporting event in the country and this year returns to its original November (6-8) date.

The event, which attracted more than 120,000 fans last year, is a pivotal stop in the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship calendar as one of the last events of the year heading into the grand final in Sydney.

V8 Supercars is pleased to have the services of the well-established and credentialed Long Run company to work with the Series in further growing the ITM 500 Auckland.

"New Zealand's largest annual sporting event needs very experienced hands and we wanted to ensure the management of this event remained in New Zealand," said V8 Supercars Chief Operating Officer Shane Howard.

"Last year's ITM 500 Auckland was enormously successful and moving it to the proven and more fan-friendly time slot in November offers opportunities to take the event to the next level. For that we need vastly experienced event managers based in New Zealand."

ITM 500 Auckland host city partner Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) welcomed the appointment of an Auckland owned and operated company to the delivery arm of V8 Supercars Australia.

"Having an Auckland owned and operated business involved is great news. The Long Run Ltd has a proven track record in delivering major events and is a great addition to the ITM 500 Auckland," saidATEEDCEOBrett O'Riley.

"The ITM 500 Auckland has gone from strength to strength and ATEED, on behalf of Auckland Council, is looking forward to working with the V8 Supercars family, to deliver a world-class motorsport event right here in Pukekohe."

Grandstand and general admission Tickets for the event are on sale at www.ticketek.co.nz.