Pukekohe Park Raceway

Last updated

Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe Park Raceway (2013).png
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 / -37.21556; 174.91889
FIA Grade 3 [lower-alpha 1]
OwnerAuckland Thoroughbred Racing
Opened1963
Closed3 April 2023;13 months ago (2023-04-03)
Major eventsCurrent:
Racer Products V8s (2002–2011, 2013–2020, 2022–2023)
Former:
Supercars Championship
Auckland SuperSprint
(2001–2007, 2013–2019, 2022)
Pukekohe 500 (1963–1994, 2012–2014, 2019–2020, 2022)
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) [1]
Length2.910 km (1.808 miles)
Turns11
Race lap record59.073 (Glenn Smith, Crawford DP03, 2018, DP)
Grand Prix Circuit (1967–2012) [1]
Length2.820 km (1.752 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record51.807 (Glenn Smith, Crawford DP03, 2018, DP)
Original Circuit (1963–1966) [1]
Length3.540 km (2.200 miles)
Turns7
Race lap record1:25.700 (Graham Hill, BRM P261, 1966, F1)
Aerial shot of Pukekohe Park taken in July 2016. Pukekohe Park Aerial 2016.jpg
Aerial shot of Pukekohe Park taken in July 2016.

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.

Contents

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.""

History

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. [2] 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. [3]

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. [4] [5]

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. [6] 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.

Layout history

New Zealand Grand Prix

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).

YearDriverCarEntrant
1963 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Surtees Lola Mk4 Bowmaker-Yeoman Credit Team
1964 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T170 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
1965 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill Brabham BT11A Scuderia Veloce
1966 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill BRM P261 Owen Racing Organisation
1967 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jackie Stewart BRM P261 R.H.H. Parnell
1968 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon Ferrari 246T Chris Amon
1969 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon Ferrari 246T Scuderia Veloce
1970 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Matich McLaren M10A Rothmans Team Matich
1971 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Niel Allen McLaren M10A N.E. Allen Auto Indust. (Pty) Ltd
1972 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Gardner Lola T300 Lola Cars Ltd
1973 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John McCormack Elfin MR5 Ansett Team Elfin
1975 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown Lola T332 BDS Racing
1976 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith Lola T332 Ken Smith
1977 Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg Chevron B34 Fred Opert Racing
1978 Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg Chevron B34
1979 Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi March 79B
1980 Flag of New Zealand.svg Steve Millen Ralt RT1
1981 Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave McMillan Ralt RT1
1982 Flag of Brazil.svg Roberto Moreno Ralt RT4 Goold Motorsport
1983 Flag of New Zealand.svg David Oxton Ralt RT4
1984 Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Ralt RT4
1985 Flag of the United States.svg Ross Cheever Ralt RT4
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Ross Cheever Ralt RT4
1987 Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Ralt RT4
1988 Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Radisich Ralt RT4
1989 Flag of the United States.svg Dean Hall Swift Cosworth
1990 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken SmithSwift Cosworth
1991 Flag of New Zealand.svg Craig Baird Swift Toyota
2000 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andy Booth Reynard 94D NRC International

Supercars Championship

View from Ford Mountain during the 2006 V8 Supercars Round Fordmountainview.JPG
View from Ford Mountain during the 2006 V8 Supercars Round

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.

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Pukekohe Park Raceway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.910 km (2013–2023)
DP 0:59.073 [7] Flag of New Zealand.svg Glenn Smith Crawford DP03 1 April 2018
Formula Regional 0:59.995 [8] Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-60 9 February 2020
Supercars 1:02.3719 [9] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jamie Whincup Holden ZB Commodore 15 September 2019
Formula 4 1:06.4810 [10] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ryan Suhle Mygale M14-F4 4 November 2018
Toyota 86 Championship 1:14.970 [11] Flag of New Zealand.svg Ash Blewett Toyota 86 8 November 2015
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.820 km (1967–2012)
DP 0:51.807 [12] Flag of New Zealand.svg Glenn Smith Crawford DP03 9 December 2018
Formula Holden 0:53.587 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matt Halliday Reynard 95D 2 December 2000
Formula 5000 0:54.980 [13] Flag of New Zealand.svg Michael Collins McRae GM1 26 February 2023
Supercars 0:56.0781 [14] Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy Holden VZ Commodore 16 April 2005
Formula One 0:58.900 Flag of Austria.svg Jochen Rindt Lotus 49T 4 January 1969
Group A 0:59.840 [15] Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards Nissan Skyline (BNR32) GT-R 8 December 1991
Super Touring 1:02.360 [16] Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Radisich Ford Mondeo Si 12 December 1993
Group B 1:04.340 [16] Flag of New Zealand.svg Owen Evans Porsche Carrera RS 12 December 1993
Group N 1:09.070 [16] Flag of New Zealand.svg Craig Baird BMW 325i Coupé 12 December 1993
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 3.540 km (1963–1966)
Formula One 1:25.700 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill BRM P261 8 January 1966

Notes

  1. ↑ Pukekohe Park Raceway's Grade 3 licence expired 1 August 2022.
  2. ↑ The layout was same, only the pitlane entry was changed.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pukekohe - Motorsport Magazine" . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Pukekohe V8s to feature four races". 3 News NZ. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Pukekohe V8s to get $6.6 million revamp". 3news.co.nz. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "ATR announces next step in future-planning". pukekohepark.co.nz. Pukekohe Park. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Auckland's Pukekohe Park Pulling Pin on Supercars Auto Action 20 July 2022
  6. ↑ "Pukekohe Park to be preserved in iRacing". iracing.com. iRacing. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "2018 Speedworks Final >> GT1/GT2 - Race 19 - 10 Laps Handicap Start". 1 April 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "2020 Castrol Toyota Racing Series Race 19 - Race (25 Laps) started at 16:59:57" (PDF). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "2019 Supercars Pukekohe Race 2 Statistics" . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "2018 ITM Auckland SuperSprint - Supercars Pukekohe Park Raceway CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship - Race 3". 4 November 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "2015-2016 Toyota Finance 86 Championship Session Results 8 Nov 15 Pukekohe Sunday Race 2" (PDF). 8 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "2018 Speedworks Round 1 >> Tradezone GT1/GT2 - Race 26 - 10 Laps Grid Start". 9 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "HRC Tasman Revival >> Formula 5000 - Race 29 - 8 Laps Rolling Start". 26 February 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "2005 Placemakers V8 International #1" . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Nissan-Mobil 500 Pukekohe" . Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 "Nissan-Mobil 300 Pukekohe" . Retrieved 5 December 2022.