It is a privilege for all those involved with a V8 Supercar and the experience that it offers (including spectators). None more so than the Carter's V8 Supercar that has recently won the ASKO Applicances South Island Endurance Series. It is great to have a truly competitive car involved in motorsport here in New Zealand.
Originally a John Briggs Motorsport run V8 Supercar, many will have know it as the Betta Electrical Ford driven by Paul Radisich in 2003. Later that year the team was sold to Triple Eight Race Engineering and the team became know as Team Betta Electrical.
The car was sold to Howard Racing which competed in the V8 Supercar Development Series with Adam Macrow driving. After this brief stint the car was sold to Paul Cruickshank Racing and completed most of the 2006 season with Marcus Marshall driving in the Glenford Tools (#20)colours.
Marshall had a huge accident at Bathurst that year which nearly wrote the car off. It went back to Triple Eight and put on a jig which brought it back to current chassis specs at the time.
The car has raced at both Pukekohe and Hamilton in the V8 Supercar Series.
So how did it get to New Zealand?
“Dad was having a beer with Paul (Cruikshank),” replied Matt Carter, “ and John (Bowe) had just finished up with them. Paul told us to get in touch with Jim Hewlett to help us out with the older V8 Supercar we had and then we ended up buying this one.”
Jim Hewlett engineers the car for the Carter team (previously the crew chief for Paul Cruikshank Racing). “We’ve hot rodded this one a bit. It has the current spec sequential 6 speed gear box but has bigger wheels and bigger motor.
“It is much better now that we have the new tyres on it.” Jim went on to explain that though the V8 Supercars run on 17” tyres, it is very difficult to purchase these outside of the V8 Supercar Series.
“What the public can buy is as hard as an a old brick but what you can do is go to an 18 inch wheel which gives you a whole lot of choice on make and compound (soft and hard). Hence we have gone for a wider tyre.”
The Carter V8 Supercar is campaigned in the GT1 Series and as many endurance races that come their way.
“It’s all good fun, having a whole team involved and a bit of science, “says Matt. Obviously a privilege for all.
