Whincup turns up the heat at Pukekohe

Four-timeV8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup has given his backing to Pukekohe ParkRaceway after running the first laps in anger at the revamped circuit today.

Whincupdrove the Red Bull Racing Holden for 25 laps at race speed today, with rides forfans and media ahead of the ITM 400 Auckland V8 Supercars Championship event atPukekohe on April 12-14.

YesterdayWhincup drove Auckland Mayor Len Brown around the city in his race car,creating plenty of interest as they drove down Queen Street to the Viaduct tosignal the return of the V8 supercars Championship to Auckland.

The currentV8 Supercars Champion believes there is some of the old and some of the newwrapped up in the revamped circuit.

“I think itis fantastic,” Whincup said. “I have had a bit of fun today and got 20 odd lapsaround here. It brings back some memories. It still has the character it hadwhen we raced here back in the early 2000s.

“The newstuff has spiced it up. It is much cleaner and much safer now for the driversand that is the most important thing. I can’t wait for it to clean up and putnew tyres on it for qualifying.”

Whincupjoked that he has one-up on his rivals as the first driver to complete laps atrace speed on the track.

“There hasto be some rewards for coming over. I am unsure what the others are doing,perhaps chilling out on the beach or trying to make their cars go faster but Iam over here promoting the race and as a side-effect I get to have a few lapshere.

“I hope itwill help a bit for the race here and I can’t wait to come back in 18 days.”

The $6.6mproject includes improving and replacing safety barriers, debris fencing andcurbing, some resurfacing, major alterations to the pit area, new pit garages,control buildings and addition of three new corners on the back straight.

Whincup nowfixes his sights on the V8 Supercar Championship in Tasmania next weekend aheadof the sole New Zealand round.

Tickets areon sale from Ticketek for the V8 Supercars ITM 400 Auckland at Pukekohe ParkRaceway on April 12-14 for as little as NZ$30 plus fees, with three-day generaladmission for NZ$110 and new improved three-day grandstand tickets from NZ$145.Kids 12 and under receive free GA entry into the event with a paying adult. Travel on event buses and trains isincluded in your pre-purchased V8 Supercars ITM 400 Auckland ticket.