- Original Circuit (1963–1966)
- Grand Prix Circuit (1967–1989)
- Grand Prix Circuit (1990–2012) [b]
- Grand Prix Circuit (2013–2023)
Location | Pukekohe, New Zealand |
---|---|
Time zone | UTC+12:00 |
Coordinates | 37°12′56″S174°55′8″E / 37.21556°S 174.91889°E |
FIA Grade | 3 [a] |
Owner | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing |
Opened | 1963 |
Closed | 3 April 2023 |
Major events | Former: Supercars Championship Auckland SuperSprint (2001–2007, 2013–2019, 2022) Racer Products V8s (2002–2011, 2013–2020, 2022–2023) Pukekohe 500 (1963–1994, 2012–2014, 2019–2020, 2022) Formula 4 Australian Championship (2018) New Zealand Grand Prix (1963–1973, 1975–1991, 2000) Tasman Series (1974) Toyota 86 Championship (2014–2019, 2021) Toyota Racing Series (2005–2007, 2009, 2020) V8SuperTourer (2012–2015) |
Website | https://www.pukekohepark.co.nz |
Grand Prix Circuit (2013–2023) | |
Length | 2.910 km (1.808 miles) |
Turns | 11 |
Race lap record | 0:59.073 ( Glenn Smith, Crawford DP03, 2018, DP) |
Grand Prix Circuit (1967–2012) | |
Length | 2.820 km (1.752 miles) |
Turns | 8 |
Race lap record | 0:51.807 ( Glenn Smith, Crawford DP03, 2018, DP) |
Original Circuit (1963–1966) | |
Length | 3.540 km (2.200 miles) |
Turns | 7 |
Race lap record | 1:25.700 ( Graham Hill, BRM P261, 1966, F1) |
Pukekohe Park Raceway was a former FIA Grade 3 car racing track that was situated on the outside of the Pukekohe Park Thoroughbred Racetrack, located in the surrounds of Pukekohe.
The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore Aedrorome as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. The car Raceway was designed around the horse racing track that has been hosting thoroughbred races since 1920.
The New Zealand Grand Prix was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway on 29 occasions, the first being in 1963, and the last in 2020.
Pukekohe Park Raceway's Grade 3 licence expired 1 August 2022.
The owner of the grounds Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) announced that it would cease hosting motorsport events on 3 April 2023, citing a desire to focus on its horse racing events and club facilities.
The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore Aedrorome as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Annually for several years, the mainly European based Grand Prix drivers such as Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, would head downunder for a relaxed Tasman Series during the European winter.
For many years Pukekohe was the venue for New Zealand's premier production car race, the Benson and Hedges 500 mile race (later 1000 km) featuring drivers such as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Jim Richards. In 1996 the New Zealand Mobil Sprints held one round in Pukekohe. Pukekohe Park Raceway also held an annual round of the popular Australian V8 Supercar race from 2001 to 2007. However, the New Zealand round moved to Hamilton Street Circuit in 2008. On 5 July 2012, it was announced that V8 Supercars would return to the circuit in 2013 as part of a 5-year deal with the circuit operators following a series of upgrades to accommodate for the series' return.
The changes to the track included a series of corners before the hairpin turn, meaning safer, slower races. [1] The upgrades also included a new race control building, timing building and corporate viewing facility opposite the main grandstand as well as the addition of overhead pedestrian bridges. [2]
In the centre of the circuit there is a thoroughbred racing and training centre, which dictates the use of the site as it owned by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR). The club is host to 14 horse race meetings a year and is used six days a week as a stables and training facility.
On 20 July 2022, ATR announced that it would cease hosting motorsport events on 3 April 2023, citing a desire to focus on its horse racing events and club facilities. [3] [4]
On 8 September 2022, iRacing announced that Pukekohe Park would be laser scanned and digitally preserved for sim racing after an online petition was launched. [5] Over 7,000 digital signatures were collected and the petition gathered support from the "King of Pukekohe" Greg Murphy and three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin, both former Supercars race winners at Pukekohe.
The New Zealand Grand Prix has been held at Pukekohe on 29 occasions, the first being in 1963, and the last to date being held in 2000. Between 1964 and 1975, the NZ Grand Prix at the circuit was also a round of the Tasman Series. Winners of the NZ Grand Prix at Pukekohe include Kiwis Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Craig Baird, and Paul Radisich, internationals such as Australian Frank Gardner, Italian Teo Fabi, and Brazilian Roberto Moreno, as well as Formula One World Champions John Surtees, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Keke Rosberg (Rosberg's wins in 1977 and 1978 were before his World Championship win in 1982).
In 2008 the Supercars Championship round in New Zealand moved to the Hamilton Street Circuit so Pukekohe held its final event on the weekend of 20–22 April 2007. In 2013 Supercars returned to Pukekohe after the Auckland government confirmed that stakeholders would put $6.6 million into making the circuit more suitable for Supercars. These upgrades include a new chicane on the back straight, more pedestrian bridges and a makeover of the circuit's appearance.
The fastest official race lap records at the Pukekohe Park Raceway are listed as:
Simon Peter Wills is a former racing driver who currently runs a graphic design business.
Gregory David Murphy is a New Zealand professional racing driver, best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. Greg Murphy joined Jeremy Clarkson and James May presenting Top Gear Live, when it had its first international Live show at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from 12 to 15 February 2009, and again when the show returned in 2010.
Sydney Motorsport Park is a motorsport circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the Australian Racing Drivers Club. The circuit is one of only two permanent tracks in Australia with an FIA Grade 2 license and is licensed for both cars and motorcycles.
Jason John Richards was a New Zealand motor racing driver. A multiple championship winning driver in his homeland in the New Zealand Touring Car Championship, he moved to Australia to pursue a career in the Australian-based V8 Supercar Championship Series. Richards career highlights include finishing second three times in V8 Supercar's most famous race, the Bathurst 1000. Richards died at the age of 35, just over a year after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Wellington 500 was a 500 km (310 mi) street race for touring cars which took place at Wellington City in Wellington, New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s. The 1987 event was a round of the 1987 World Touring Car Championship.
Oran Park Raceway was a motor racing circuit at Narellan south west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia which was operational from February 1962 until its closure in January 2010. The track was designed and started by George Murray and Jack Allen. Since its closure in 2010 it has been (re)developed into housing.
Sandown International Raceway is a motor racing circuit in the suburb of Springvale in Melbourne, Victoria, approximately 25 km (16 mi) south east of the city centre. Sandown is considered a power circuit with its "drag strip" front and back straights being 899 m (983 yd) and 910 m (1,000 yd) long respectively.
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The New Zealand Grand Prix, sometimes known as the New Zealand International Grand Prix, is an annual motor racing event held in New Zealand. First held in 1950, it is best known for hosting rounds of the Tasman Series in the 1960s and 1970s. It is currently run as the signature race of the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
The 1965 New Zealand Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on 9 January 1965. The race was held over 50 laps of the 3.5 km (2.2 mi) combined circuit for a total distance of 175 km (110 mi). The Grand Prix was run for open wheel racing cars, specifically conforming to either the 2.5 litre Tasman Formula regulations or the 1.6 litre New Zealand National Formula regulations.
The Auckland SuperSprint was an annual motor racing event for Supercars, held at Pukekohe Park Raceway in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The event was a regular part of the Supercars Championship—and its previous incarnations, the Shell Championship Series and V8 Supercars Championship—since 2001.
The Pukekohe 500 was an endurance motor racing event first held in 1963 at Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe, New Zealand.
The 2013 ITM 400 Auckland was a motor race meeting for the Australasian sedan-based V8 Supercars Championship. It was the third event of the 2013 season and took place over four 100 kilometer races. Following the collapse of the Hamilton 400, this event marked the return of Pukekohe Park Raceway to the schedule and was the first running of the Auckland event since 2007.
The 2003 PlaceMakers V8 International was the twelfth round of the 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 7 to 9 November at Pukekohe Park Raceway in New Zealand.
The 2001 Boost Mobile V8 International was the twelfth round of the 2001 Shell Championship Series. This was the first V8 Supercar event in New Zealand since the 1996 Mobil New Zealand Sprints and the first time as part of the official calendar. It was held on the weekend of 9 to 11 November at Pukekohe Park Raceway in New Zealand.
The 2005 PlaceMakers V8 International was a motor race for V8 Supercars held on the weekend of 15-17 April, 2005. The event was held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway in Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of three races culminating in 400 kilometers. It was the second round of thirteen in the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series and the first of two international events on the calendar.
The 2004 PlaceMakers V8 International was a motor race for V8 Supercars held on the weekend of 2–4 April 2004. The event was held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway in Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of three races culminating in 300 kilometers. It was the third round of thirteen in the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series and the only international event on the calendar.
The 2006 PlaceMakers V8 International was a motor race for V8 Supercars held on the weekend of 21–23 April 2006. The event was held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway in Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of three races culminating in 400 kilometers. It was the second round of thirteen in the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series and the first of two international events on the calendar.
The 2022 ITM Auckland SuperSprint was a motor racing event for Supercars, held on the weekend of 9 to 11 September 2022. The event was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway near Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of three races. It was the 10th event of thirteen in the 2022 Supercars Championship and hosted races 23 and 24 of the season.