Public vote for final Kiwi Young Gun wildcard; Cassidy and Kelsey confirmed
Thursday 29 May 2014, 1:54PM
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Single seater star Nick Cassidy and talented rally driver Alex Kelsey will join in the 20-strong line-up of Kiwi Young Guns, supported by Total Lubricants, which is one of the key highlights of July’s CRC Speedshow. The final wildcard position will be decided with the assistance of New Zealand motorsport fans who are being invited to nominate and vote for their favourite young racing star.
Ross Prevette, director of New Zealand’s largest annual automotive and motorsport show, says: “Earlier this month, 17 of the 20 Kiwi Young Guns were confirmed and include off-roaders, karters, drifters, motocross and motorcycle racers, circuit and speedway racers, drag racers and rally drivers.
“We’re delighted to welcome Europe-based Aucklander Nick Cassidy, age 19, and Coromandel’s Alex Kelsey, age 21, to the Kiwi Young Guns line-up. They’re both very worthy participants – Nick as a three-time winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix and now currently based in the United Kingdom as he contests the Formula Renault 2.0 EuroCup, and Alex as the youngest-ever winner of a New Zealand Rally Championship event and most recently seen all over the media with the unveiling of the Peugeot-bodied rally car he built himself.”
Prevette says the Kiwi Young Guns nomination process has highlighted an incredible array of talent across all genres of motorsport.
“It’s also been fantastic to receive really positive feedback about the concept of supporting New Zealand’s young race stars with this major display at this year’s CRC Speedshow and provide them with the chance to meet new fans, grow their social media platforms, network with other motorsport competitors and the hundreds of company owners and decision-makers exhibiting at CRC Speedshow and potentially looking for sponsorship opportunities.
“Now we’re asking Kiwi race fans to nominate and vote for the final participant, a wildcard entry, to complete our 20-strong line-up of Kiwi Young Guns, a display which benefits from the support of well-known motorsport brand Total Lubricants.”
In a short, sharp promotion closing 10 June, fans can nominate the lucky under 25-year-old motorsport competitor they think is worthy of joining the Kiwi Young Guns display at this year’s show.
Nominations can be emailed to competitions@speedshow.co.nz by 3 June and should include the nominee’s name, category of motorsport and links to the nominee’s website or social media channels. On 4 June, all nominees will be included in a poll on the CRC Speedshow Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/speedshownz, with voting closing a week later on 10 June.
Visit the CRC Speedshow website, www.speedshow.co.nz, and click on the Kiwi Young Guns icon to see full details of how to nominate and vote for the final wildcard participant.
The first 19 of the 20 Kiwi Young Guns, supported by Total Lubricants, are:
- Avalon Biddle, 21, Orewa, motorcycle road racing
- Taine Carrington, 16, Auckland, off-road racing
- Nick Cassidy, 19, Auckland, circuit racing
- Caleb Cross, 13, Christchurch, karting
- Dyson Delahunty, 14, Papamoa, off-road racing
- Mitch Evans, 19, Auckland, circuit racing
- Chelsea Herbert, 15, Auckland, karting
- Ben Hunt, 25, Nelson, rallying
- Alex Kelsey, 21, Coromandel, rallying
- Jamie Larsen, 21, Paraparaumu, speedway
- Kayne Lamont, 21, Mangakino, motocross
- Matthew Leversedge, 17, Christchurch, speedway
- Scott McLaughlin, 19, Melbourne, circuit racing
- Monique McMillin, 25, Hamilton, drag racing
- Daniel Mettam, 18, Auckland, motorcycle road racing
- Richard Moore, 22, Auckland, circuit racing
- Bailie Perriton, 16, Ashburton, motorcycle road racing
- Jodie Verhulst, 26, Tauranga, drifting
- Mike Young, 22, Opotiki, rallying
The display in the centre of hall two at CRC Show showcases key vehicles that each of the young stars have raced, and most of the Young Guns also plan to attend the show in person to meet current and future fans.
The eighth annual CRC Speedshow takes place at Auckland's ASB Showgrounds over the weekend of 19 and 20 July 2014 with five halls full of hundreds of display vehicles and opportunities to meet racing stars and enjoy top-class entertainment in the Idea Wheels' live action arena.
For more information you can follow CRC Speedshow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Speedshow), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/speedshwpnz) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/speedshow/) or see the website www.speedshow.co.nz