V8 Supercar chief Tony Cochrane and current champion and Hamilton 400 winner Garth Tander have hailed the inaugral event a huge success and believe it will become a feature race on the calendar for years to come.

Over 155,000 fans flocked to the Hamilton street circuit over the three days with Sunday a complete sell out with 60,000 through the guys before midday.

Cochrane said the Hamilton 400 was the culmination of seven years of hard work with the first letter regarding a New Zealand street race sent on September 1, 2001.

Cochrane praised the work of Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock, his CEO Michael Redman, the councillors and the City of Hamilton staff, as well as event Promoters CSML for creating such a brilliant event and atmosphere.

“They have created an absolute world-class facility and the job they have done here by anybody's calculations is nothing short of magnificent,” Cochrane said.

“New Zealand can be proud this weekend; they have staged what is the country's biggest weekend sporting event, with great crowds, a terrific atmosphere and tremendous co operation on every level.

“The crowds have been well behaved and they even turned on some great New Zealand Autumn weather for us at the end of the day.

“So really from our point of view a tremendous and seamless exercise and we are delighted with the response over here.

“This has been a wonderful partnership from the first phone call until today and I hope it continues way, way longer than the seven years. We are delighted to be here, we are delighted to be helping put Hamilton on the map and intend to make this a feature of our Championship for many years to come,” he said.

After claiming a perfect trifecta of race wins on Sunday afternoon, Holden Dealer Team's Garth Tander was equal in his praise for the event and crowd saying his time in Hamilton had been a fantastic experience and he looks forward to coming back.

“It seems like the whole town and council has got behind event and involved with the race and they have really put on a fantastic event this weekend,” Tander said.

“I mean sure there were teething troubles, but I'm sure they will be fixed for next year and as I said on the podium, and I will say it again, this is already a big event and I think it has got the potential to become one of the big events of the year.

“And for a first up effort I think you have all done a fantastic job, congratulations.”

Author:BigPond Sport
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright