The New Zealand motor racing legend Greg Murphy is welcoming the news that the local round of the Australian V8 supercar championship is returning to Pukekohe in 20-13 after half a decade of controversy in Hamilton.
The Auckland council has voted in favour of the city hosting the V8s at the Pukekohe track for five years - and it's the right move for Murphy, who won four times at Pukekohe.
Hamilton hosted its last V8s race in April but cost blowouts and public opposition meant the event never really made itself at home in Waikato - but the back to the future move's a win-win to Murphy's mind.
He says it's interesting and a little strange that the event's come full circle and back to Pukekohe, but it's a win-win to his mind, with economic benefits flowing back into the Auckland region as well as, of course, the V8s staying in New Zealand
The deal is still to be finalised, but involves $10.5 million of Auckland ratepayers money, partly to upgrade the Pukekohe circuit.
The Auckland Tourism Events and Economic development organisation ATEED claims the race will generate an annual regional return of $7 million.
