First public viewing of the Nissan GT-R and much more at Speedshow

This year’s GT Radial Speedshow features not only some of the fastest, most exciting and most powerful race cars but also some of the most spectacular performance cars.

Speedshow, a celebration of motorsport in New Zealand, takes place at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland over the weekend of 20 and 21 September 2008.

Alongside one of Scott Dixon’s Indy race cars, several New Zealand V8s, the Bonneville land speed record-seeking Black Thunder Kawasaki, a Ferrari F1 car, championship-winning midgets and sprint cars, and many more, Speedshow features the first public viewing of Nissan’s mighty new GT-R.

“The Nissan GT-R takes centre stage amongst an elite selection of performance cars that add an interesting dimension to this year’s GT Radial Speedshow,” says organiser Keith Sharp.

The 352 kW R35 GT-R isn’t officially launched in New Zealand until March 2009, but a Japanese specification prototype is in the country and will go on display for Speedshow visitors. In a recent article, NZ Autocar magazine compared the GT-R to the ultra-expensive Bugatti Veyron, saying “…the Bugatti is the only other vehicle I have driven that provided such staggering on-demand performance, such a feeling of omnipotence.”

Amongst the performance car line-up at GT Radial Speedshow, car fans can also see another GTR, this one made by UK company, Ultima Sports. Billed as the world’s most affordable supercar, the Ultima GTR was crowned the fastest production car in the world in 2006. It’s powered by a Chevrolet 6.3-litre V8 producing over 530 bhp and can be built at home by the buyer or the UK factory. The only Ultima GTR in New Zealand will be on display at Speedshow courtesy of owner Tony Philips.

Highly recognisable and no less performance-oriented, the cars that compete in the D1NZ National Drifting Championship will also feature with a major display in hall two of the ASB Showgrounds.

And the search is on for New Zealand’s best car and driver to go head to head against seven Aussie competitors in the second season of the Australian-filmed TV show Turtle Wax Blood, Sweat & Gears. Any vehicle type is eligible, from classic muscle cars to fast fours and vintage classics and everything in between. Competitors will be put through their paces in a series of gruelling challenges to test not only their need for speed but also advanced driving skills, car handling and how well their machine scrubs up. The winner takes a big prize pool and the title “Australasia’s King of Cars”. Visit the Turtle Wax stand at GT Radial Speedshow for more details.

“There are so many fantastic cars coming to Speedshow as part of the displays being created by our exhibitors, it’s quite phenomenal. I quite happily class myself as a ‘petrol-head’ and I’m really looking forward to seeing all these amazing cars when Speedshow opens! With single seaters, V8s, hot rods, dragsters, motor bikes of several varieties, speedway racers, our live action arena and the very fastest performance cars like the Nissan GT-R, you can quite honestly say there’s something for every kind of petrol-head at the 2008 GT Radial Speedshow,” says Sharp.

Speedshow is open from 9am to 6pm on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September at the ASB Showgrounds on Greenlane West, Greenlane, Auckland. Tickets are only available from the gate with one-day adult passes priced at $15, students (with ID) $12, children 15 years of age and under $10 each and family passes for two adults and two children $40. Full details can be found on the website www.speedshow.co.nz.