The 9th annual Silverstone Race to the Sky is all set to take place at Easter 2006 after confirming Malaysian high performance tyre manufacturer, Silverstone Berhad, as title sponsor for the ninth consecutive year.
Silverstone's significant sponsorship commitment is an indication of the international credibility New Zealand's premier hillclimb holds as the event continues to grow in popularity each year.
CEO of Silverstone Berhad, Mr Phang Wai Yeen, said "We are delighted to be supporting this high profile event for the ninth time. The Race to the Sky Hillclimb Race is in tandem with Silverstone's worldwide communication platform and supports its market. It also provides a research and development showcase for our tyre technology development."
Other confirmed sponsors of the event to date include The Rock as the official radio station to the event, Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown as the official hotel, and Australia-New Zealand Direct Line (ANZDL) as the official shipping line.
Former World Rally Champion Kenneth Eriksson from Sweden, who has served notice since first competing in 2004 that he would be taking 7-time winner "Monster" Tajima of Japan head-on in the former Possum Bourne WRC Subaru, is expected to return and will be in New Zealand testing the car this month.
Ex pat Kiwi Rod Millen, who now lives in the USA and has been an event winner and a consistent place getter since the event started, is also expected to return for the 2006 event along with his son Rhys.
Entries for the event open on 1 January 2006 and close on 10 March. Entries for 2006 are limited to 125 and are expected to be filled before the 10 March closing date.
Interest from competitors is already high with a number of vehicles being specially built or modified just for this event.
The event will take place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th April 2006 on the Snow Farm access road in the Cardrona Valley between Wanaka and Queenstown.
