Press Releases

SPARC is set to double its investment in New Zealand motorsports to nearly $310,000 next year. MotorSport NZ, KartSport New Zealand, Motorcycling NZ, Speedway NZ and NZ Powerboat Federation all stand to gain from the decision.

SPARC’s Chief Executive, Nick Hill, says the decision to increase investment follows a SPARC review into the benefits of investing in amateur motorised sport. SPARC invests in national sport organisations that contribute to getting people physically active and winning in events that matter to New Zealanders.

“Motorised sports meet our criteria for investment in a number of ways. International research shows that competitive driving requires a great deal of physical effort. Athletes must have stamina, high physical fitness and strength, be capable of withstanding strong forces on their bodies and a sharply accelerated heart rate. Unlike a number of sports, non-elite participation replicates many of the same physical conditioning factors required at the elite level.

“Motorised sports are also very important to New Zealanders in terms of participating, watching and winning. Membership of the five organisations totals nearly 35,000 people, and there are an estimated 100,000 New Zealanders actively involved in the sport when crew support is included.

“For all these reasons, SPARC has decided to treat motorised sports as it does all other sports and apply our standard investment formula. This has resulted in the increase in investment,” he says.

Robert Cunningham, President of KartSport New Zealand says he is delighted with the news.

"A lot of people think that motorised sport involves sitting down while the motor does all the work. This is untrue as was identified by SPARC's research. Drivers and riders in motorised sports rely on fitness, concentration, precision and fast reaction times. Motorsport competitors at the top level are at least as fit as top athletes in other sports,” he says.

Robert Cunningham says the additional investment will help KartSport New Zealand to expand its training programmes for competitors; especially its school-aged drivers, as well as its ongoing training of officials.

MotorSport Manager for MotorSport New Zealand, Kerry Cooper, has applauded SPARC’s approach to the review.

”I’ve been really impressed with the approach SPARC has taken to the review of motorised sport and I’m obviously enthusiastic about the outcome. Our sport has a proud history of achievement and our top competitors are certainly held in high regard worldwide and, just as importantly, also by the New Zealand public. Our strategic planning is clearly focused on the future development of our young talent to perform on not just the domestic but the world stage in events that matter to Kiwis and this review keeps up that momentum,” he says.

Updated | 30 Mar 2006.

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