Grid Kids Duathlon Series - Round 1 Pukekohe

This year there is a new addition to the MotorSport NZ Championship series – another race but this time not involving cars! Grid Kids Duathlon is for children aged 7-15 years who get to run and cycle on the race tracks around NZ. Motorsport NZ are right behind the initiative giving each entrant into Grid Kids 2 free adult tickets to stay and watch the V8s!

Located in the new Downtown Village, at each of the Motorsport NZ Premier Series events, Grid Kids is a great way to involve kids in the weekend of racing and gives them the chance to be centre stage at the NZ V8s. The thrill of riding on the motor racing track, in front of a crowd, is an exciting prospect for most children.

The first event in the series was held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway with 65 children taking on the challenge. Cheered on by the NZ V8 teams with transition in pit lane the kids did a short run and then grabbed their bikes and headed out onto the track behind the Motorsport NZ Mercedes Safety car for a lap or two (depending on age) of the track finishing in front of the grandstand to the applause of drivers and parents. There is nothing quite like watching kids sprinting off at the start of an event, full of enthusiasm and to see their smiling, determined faces racing towards the finish line to collect their medal.

Prize giving was held after the event with 10 lucky children chosen to hold a grid board for the top ten places on the BNT V8s grid – nothing like being right in the action on the start line for the V8s! The chosen kids stood wide eyed as their hero’s lined up on track right beside them!

Next stop is Christchurch where the event will be held at Ruapuna Park. For more information and to enter online please visit www.gridkids.co.nz

For further information contact:

Shanelle Barrett
Race Director
027 457 6736