Hampton Downs Motorsport Park

Last updated

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (International Layout).png
International Circuit (2016–present)
LocationNorth Waikato, New Zealand
Time zone UTC+12:00
Coordinates 37°21′14″S175°4′31″E / 37.35389°S 175.07528°E / -37.35389; 175.07528
FIA Grade 3
Owner Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Quinn (2015–present)
Broke ground23 February 2007;17 years ago (2007-02-23)
Opened18 October 2009;15 years ago (2009-10-18)
Major eventsCurrent:
GT World Challenge Australia (2016–2018, 2025)
FR Oceania (2010–2021, 2023–present)
Bridgestone GR86 Championship (2014–2015, 2017–present)
Super V8 Series (2014–2015, 2017–2019, 2021–present)
Former:
New Zealand Grand Prix (2021, 2023)
Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2018)
V8SuperTourer (2012–2015)
Website http://www.hamptondowns.com
International Circuit (2016–present)
Length3.800 km (2.361 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:27.637 ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Lyons, McLaren M26, 2017, F1)
National Circuit (2009–present)
Length2.700 km (1.678 miles)
Turns7
Race lap record0:59.444 ( Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith, Lola T332, 2019, F5000)
Club Circuit (2016–present)
Length1.200 km (0.745 miles)
Turns4

The Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is situated in rural northern Waikato (about halfway between Auckland and Hamilton on the Waikato Expressway), New Zealand near the Meremere drag strip and the dirt track club. [1]

Contents

History

The motorsport park is an ambitious privately funded enterprise by two motorsport friends, Tony Roberts and Chris Watson. Roberts and Watson purchased two dairy farms from Envirowaste in December 2003 and began the long task of getting resource consent to build the Motorsport Park. Opposition from Transit NZ and the Corrections Department (their new prison is 2 km away) caused delays due to concerns over traffic, litter and odour, which was ironic with the landfill only 2 km (1.2 mi) away. The concept of apartments on the edge of the circuit was entirely new and untested in the market. Roberts and Watson came up with the concept from observing its success alongside golf courses to help fund the project. It was a major success, with the 80 apartments selling in only 5 weeks in 2006 and returning $26 million to help fund the project. With construction beginning in February 2007. The completion was planned for late 2008, but a particularly wet winter pushed the opening out to October 2009. Some of the circuit was built on swampy ground, and Fraser Thomas Ltd, the engineers on the project utilised modern pre-loading technology to ensure that the land would be stable enough to support a race track. The earthworks were carried out by Ross Reid Ltd, who purchased laser controlled graders to ensure an accurate build of the circuit. In January 2010 Hampton Downs was officially opened by the Waikato District Mayor, Peter Harris, at the Bruce McLaren Festival. This Festival was the first of the very successful Historic Motorsport Festival promoted to celebrate a famous New Zealander, or car marque. Hampton Downs has become a major venue for local motorsport without the restrictions imposed by tracks that share the use with the horse racing fraternity like Pukekohe Park Raceway. It also reflects a modern approach to motor race track design and associated amenities. The 160ha development's initial plans also included an industrial park, events cafe, motor lodge, lifestyle blocks, 80-trackside apartments and convention centre (re-located Britomart Pavilion) and the track is already booked out five days a week for driver training and various industry promotions.

In 2015, Tony Quinn purchased the complex and work started almost immediately to complete the circuit extension, based closely on the original plans. Currently completed are hospitality suites above the pits, a corporate karting circuit, business park, business apartments (with seven-car garages) and cafe. The Bruce McLaren Trust has an industrial unit with a large collection of the famous NZ racing driver and originator of the McLaren F1 team memorabilia, which can be viewed most days.

In 2020, the track would have hosted the Supercars Championship's Auckland Super400 but the lockdown due to COVID-19 curtailed this. Although the event is traditionally held at Pukekohe Park Raceway, the 2020 race was scheduled for Anzac Day (25 April), which is forbidden under local legislation. [2]

Hampton Downs is one of the most technically advanced race circuit in the world, with complete integration between race control, start lights, flag point lights, pit lane lights, CCTV system, timing systems, environmental sound monitoring, pit lane speed monitoring and large outdoor LED information displays. Most day-to-day operations are now fully automated including a vehicle safety system that monitors all vehicles on track and alerts the operator within 30sec if a vehicle stops on track.[ citation needed ]

The circuit

The track consists of two independent circuits that can be combined to form one large circuit. The direction of the circuits are clockwise. The track has a very smooth surface, and a mix of blind bends and crests which make it a challenging circuit for drivers. [3] The front straight is 950 m (3,120 ft) long with a kink in the middle and has an 11 m (36 ft) rise and fall, and the back straight is 750 m (2,460 ft) long. The National circuit, which incorporates the long front straight and pit facilities, is 2.700 km (1.678 mi) long with seven corners. The club circuit is 1.200 km (0.746 mi) long with four corners. Both tracks can combine into a 3.800 km (2.361 mi) circuit with six right-hand and four left-hand corners. [4]

Accommodation

The 450 ha (1,100 acres) includes 80-trackside apartments set in four blocks on the main straight, all of which were sold out within three weeks during September 2004. Many of the apartments are offered to rent as part of a motel and are able to accommodate up to six people.

Track facilities and specification

The track has been designed for FIA Level 3 usage, which is just one step below Formula One. Apart from racing, there will be an emphasis on the testing and driver training facility. Downforce will run driver training (instructed by A1GP veteran Jonny Reid) and corporate events at Hampton Downs. California Superbike School have signed up and base its New Zealand fleet of Suzuki GSX-R600s at Hampton Downs to deliver professional rider training between-races events at Hampton Downs, as an extension of its worldwide network. [3]

Virtual models

Demonstrations

The track had been modeled in 3D by Rmedia [5] featuring a BMW Formula One car. Its full simulation also had been analysed by FIA. [6]

Games

The Hampton Downs circuit was immortalised in the rFactor game by way of third-party generated content based on the early plans made before construction was initially complete. This content is available to download for public use.

Track events

The track has hosted several major events since it opened in 2009. The circuit also hosts a round of the Toyota Racing Series each summer (except 2022), with three races being held during the event and the New Zealand Motor Cup being contested over the final race. The V8SuperTourer series held two yearly events at the circuit from its inception until its demise. The newly formed NZ Touring Car Championship now contests there annually. Many other events are held other the year[ clarification needed ] including national events as well as local events. The circuit also hosts the New Zealand Grand Prix in 2021 and 2023.

It also hosted the 2016 Hampton Downs 101, an endurance race as part of the 2016 Australian GT Championship.

Event list

Current
Former

Lap records

As of January 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
International Circuit: 3.800 km (2016–present)
Formula One 1:27.637 [7] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Lyons McLaren M26 [8] 20 January 2017
Formula Regional 1:28.340 [9] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Arvid Lindblad Tatuus FT-60 19 January 2025
GT3 1:30.014 [10] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Hackett [11] Mercedes-AMG GT3 30 October 2016
Ferrari Challenge 1:35.467 [12] Flag of Monaco.svg Louis Prette Ferrari 488 Challenge 15 April 2018
Toyota GR86 Championship 1:50.116 [13] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cooper Barnes Toyota GR86 19 January 2025
National Circuit: 2.700 km (2009–present)
Formula 5000 0:59.444 [14] Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith Lola T332 25 January 2019
Toyota Racing Series 0:59.636 [15] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed Tatuus FT-50 29 January 2017
Formula Regional 1:01.280 [16] Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-60 1 February 2020
Toyota 86 Championship 1:14.210 [17] Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Alexander Toyota 86 3 May 2014

Notes

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    References

    1. ↑ Segedin, Kara (2009-10-27). "Motorsport: New track has vvvroom with a view". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
    2. ↑ van Leeuwen, Andrew (12 January 2020). "Supercars forced to move NZ round to Hampton Downs". Motorsport.com . Retrieved 12 January 2020.
    3. 1 2 Madelin, Jacqui (2009-11-08). "Motorsport: Opening blast on intriguing track". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
    4. ↑ http://www.hamptondowns.com/pages/65/the-circuit.htm Archived 2013-11-26 at archive.today Hampton Downs-The Circuit
    5. ↑ HamptonDowns (2008-05-14). "Hot Lap on Hampton Downs". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
    6. ↑ Thompson, Eric (2009-07-01). "Motorsport: Hampton Downs races to finish". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
    7. ↑ "2017 NZFMR >> Historic Formula 1 - Race 15 - Rolling Start". 20 January 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
    8. ↑ "Michael Lyons - Driver Database" . Retrieved 16 November 2022.
    9. ↑ "2025 Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Championship - Round 02: 17-19 January 2025 - Race 3 Results". 19 January 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
    10. ↑ "Australian Endurance Hampton Downs 2016". 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
    11. ↑ "2016 CAMS Australian Endurance Championship - Driver Database" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
    12. ↑ "Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific @ Hampton Downs - International 4/13/2018 - 4/15/2018 Race 1 - 30 Minutes". 15 April 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
    13. ↑ "2024/25 Bridgestone GR86 Championship - Round 02: 17-19 January 2025 - Race 2 Results". 19 January 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
    14. ↑ "2019 Motorsport NZ Premier Championship Formula 5000 - Race 20 - 8 Laps Rolling Start". 25 January 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
    15. ↑ "Hampton Downs - National Toyota Racing Series Race 12 - Grid Start - 15 Laps - 29/01/2017" (PDF). 29 January 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
    16. ↑ "2020 BP Ultimate MSNZ Championship Castrol Toyota Racing Series Race 9 - 20 Laps Grid Start Race (20 Laps) started at 15:20:34" (PDF). 1 February 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
    17. ↑ "2013-2014 Toyota Finance 86 Championship Session Results 3 May 14 Hampton Downs Saturday Race 1" (PDF). 3 May 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
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