2009 Australia V New Zealand Team Challenge The friendly Aussie verses Kiwi rivalry will resume on the 21st and 22nd of March, 2009 when the Waikaraka Family Speedway and the Huntly Speedway host the Australia v New Zealand Team Challenge and Australasian Junior Speedway Championship respectfully. The Trans Tasman challenge was first held at the Perth Motorplex in 2003 when six New Zealand Junior drivers crossed the ditch to race 6 Australian Junior drivers. Six years later the score stands at Australia 3 – New Zealand 3 so there is a lot of bragging rights resting on this year’s event. Some of the drivers that have competed in the series include 3-time Australian Junior Sedan Champion Todd Waddell, Kye Scroop, inaugural Australasian Champion Carl Dowling and 2-time Australian Junior Sedan Champion Kyle Spicer. The Waikaraka Family Speedway is known as the quickest track in the country which hosts a wealth of talent and is a breeding ground for some of New Zealand's most successful motor sport competitors. Backing up on the second day of the event is Huntly Speedway, the home of the Waikato Stock & Saloon Car Club. The club is committed to providing top quality family speedway action. Selection into the program is based on a Junior team donating a car to a visiting driver and bearing all associated support and running cost. The team then gets priority selection to be in the touring team the following year. This has attracted parents that have a very strong commitment to there child’s long term racing careers. The host country also provides free accommodation and transport for the whole touring party. Representative drivers have their airfare paid for by their respective associations while the rest of the team pays their own way. The best results of Australian in New Zealand are Steven Conte with a 4th and Bronwyn Channing placing 6th. The cars and racing is very different in NZ being Mini Stock Cars. Returning to the Australian side this year is Liam Dowling, Bronwyn Channing, Scott Elst, Tahlya Spicer and Jack Alfirevich with Josh Martinelli the new member of the team. The JSRA represents the elite level of Junior Speedway Racing in Australia and offers a pathway to advance, encourage and provide young up and coming Speedway drivers with an opportunity to develop their skills with the aim of improving their level of performance. The JSRA proudly races at Perth Motorplex, recognised as one of the best purpose-built Motorsport venues in the world and is proudly sponsored by Healthway promoting the Heart Foundation’s ‘Smarter Than Smoking’ message. This years tour is sponsored by NASR (WA) and the Sprintcar Association of WA. Liam Dowling Bronwyn Channing Scott Elst Tahlya Spicer Jack Alfirevich Josh Martinelli
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