Pukekohe 500

Last updated
Flag of New Zealand.svg Pukekohe 500
Pukekohe Park Raceway (2013).png
Race Information
Venue Pukekohe Park Raceway
Number of times held39
First held1963
Last held2022
Race Format
Race 1
Laps172
Distance500 km
Last Event (2022)
Overall Winner
RC Racing
Race Winners

The Pukekohe 500 was an endurance motor racing event first held in 1963 at Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe, New Zealand.

Contents

History

The Pukekohe 500 had its origins in the Wills Six-Hour race that was first held in 1963 as a production car race, soon after the circuit opened. [1] [2] From 1967, the event mandated that New Zealand-built production cars can only be entered into the race. [3] Through the first decades of the race, the event became recognised as the second most significant race on the New Zealand motorsport calendar behind the New Zealand Grand Prix. [1] In the early 1980s, a three race endurance series was held with races also at Bay Park Raceway and Manfeild. [3]

In the mid 1980s, the race rose to international prominence when it adopted Group A touring car regulations and was linked with the Wellington 500 street race. The two races attracted Group A racing teams from Australia, Europe and Asia though until the end of the Group A era in the early 1990s. [4] The 1988 round was part of the Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship with Wellington, the Bathurst 1000 in Australia and the Fuji 500. The 1993 and 1994 events were held to Super Touring regulations before dropping off the calendar altogether with the demise of the Wellington 500.

From 2001, the predominant touring car event at Pukekohe was superseded by the Auckland SuperSprint, a round of the Australian Supercars Championship series held at the circuit. However, the Pukekohe 500 name was revived in 2012 as a V8SuperTourer endurance event, albeit held over three races. [5] The meeting proved popular with large crowds attending. Greg Murphy rekindled his success from the V8 Supercars era at Pukekohe by winning two of the three races. The V8SuperTourer series folded in 2015 and with it the running of the Pukekohe 500.

The event was revived in 2019 as a production event. In 2020, Mark Leonard and Peter Sprague, descendants of Leo Leonard and Ernie and Gary Sprague who won the race a combined 14 times, entered the race. [6] After the 2021 race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held for a final time in 2022 prior to the circuit's closure in 2023. [7]

Winners

1963-1966 layout Pukekohe Park Raceway (1963-1966).png
1963–1966 layout
1967-1989 layout Pukekohe Park Raceway (1967-1989).png
1967–1989 layout
1990-2012 layout Pukekohe Park Raceway (1990).png
1990–2012 layout
YearDriver/sCarTeamReport
Six hours
1963 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Archibald
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Shelly
Jaguar Mark 2
1964 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Palmer
Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Fahey
Lotus Cortina
1965 Flag of New Zealand.svg John Ward
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins
Jaguar Mark 2
1966 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Archibald
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Shelly
Jaguar Mark 2
1967 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ernie Sprague
Flag of New Zealand.svg Gary Sprague
Ford Zodiac
500 miles
1968 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brent Hawes
Vauxhall Victor
1969 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ernie Sprague
Vauxhall Victor
1970 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ernie Sprague
Chrysler Valiant
1971 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Richardt
Chrysler Valiant
1972 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1973 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1974 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Wilkinson
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Innes
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1000 kilometres
1975 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Gary Sprague
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1976 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Little
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Richardt
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1977 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ernie Sprague
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1978 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Wilkinson
Flag of New Zealand.svg Roy Harrington
Chrysler Valiant Charger
1979 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jerry Clayton
Volkswagen Golf Mk1
1980 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jerry Clayton
Holden VB Commodore
250 miles
1981 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of New Zealand.svg Gary Sprague
Ford Fairmont
1982 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Wilkinson
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neville Crichton
Holden VH Commodore
1983 Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Smith
Holden VH Commodore
1984 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kent Baigent
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neal Lowe
BMW 635 CSi H. Kent Baigent
1985 Flag of New Zealand.svg Neville Crichton
Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Wilkinson
BMW 635 CSi John Andrew Motorsport Report
1986 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neal Lowe
Holden VK Commodore SS Group A Holden Dealer Team
1987 1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Larry Perkins
Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme
Holden VK Commodore SS Group A Perkins Engineering
Flag of Italy.svg Gianfranco Brancatelli
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice
BMW M3 Mark Petch Motorsport
1988 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Miedecke
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Soper
Ford Sierra RS500 Miedecke Motorsport
1989 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe
Ford Sierra RS500 Dick Johnson Racing
1990 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Miedecke
Ford Sierra RS500 Mobil 1 Racing
1991 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Skaife
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Gibson Motorsport
1992 Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Pirro
Flag of Germany.svg Joachim Winkelhock
BMW M3 Evolution Schnitzer Motorsport
1993 Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Radisich
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton
Ford Mondeo Si Rousesport
1994 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Julian Bailey Toyota Corona Toyota New Zealand
1995

2011
Not held
2012 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Perkins
Holden VE Commodore M3 Racing
2013 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott McLaughlin
Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Moffat
Holden VE Commodore Scott McLaughlin Racing
2014 Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Evans
Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen
Holden VE Commodore Team 4
2015

2018
Not held
500 kilometres
2019 Flag of New Zealand.svg Alastair Wootten
Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Goudie
Toyota MR2
500 miles
2020 Flag of New Zealand.svg Karl Gaines
Flag of New Zealand.svg Karl Weber
Flag of New Zealand.svg Lance Gerlach
Honda Integra
2021Not held
500 kilometres
2022RC Racing
Notes

Multiple winners

By driver

WinsDriverYears
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1981
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rod Coppins 1965, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1980
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Wilkinson 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ernie Sprague 1967, 1969, 1970, 1977
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards 1972, 1973, 1991
Flag of New Zealand.svg Gary Sprague 1967, 1975, 1981
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Archibald 1963, 1966
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Shelley 1963, 1966
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Richardt 1971, 1976
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jerry Clayton 1979, 1980
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neal Lowe 1984, 1986
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neville Crichton 1982, 1985
Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme 1983, 1987
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Miedecke 1988, 1990

By manufacturer

WinsManufacturer
9 Chrysler
8 Holden
6 Ford
4 BMW
3 Jaguar
2 Vauxhall
Toyota

Event sponsors

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stock, Mike (21 May 2011). "From the rack to the track". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. Richards, Gerard (20 September 2015). "Winding back the clock to remember the Benson and Hedges 500/1000". The Motorhood. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 Holmes, Steve (22 October 2013). "The Roaring Season - Photos: The Allan Cameron Collection - Part 2". www.theroaringseason.com. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. Bartholomaeus, Stefan (1 November 2018). "Flashback: Supercars' first NZ adventure". Supercars. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. "V8 SuperTourers' International 500 moves to Pukekohe | Scoop News". Scoop . 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  6. Sail, Doug (22 October 2020). "Leonard/Sprague combination back as Timaru racers emulate dad and grandad at Pukekohe". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. Sampson, Matthew (14 October 2022). "One last dance for B&H Endurance Races at Pukekohe". VelocityNews. Retrieved 27 November 2022.