Pukekohe Park Raceway
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| Location | Pukekohe, New Zealand |
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| Time zone | GMT +12 |
| Coordinates | 37°12′56″S 174°55′8″E / 37.21556°S 174.91889°ECoordinates: 37°12′56″S 174°55′8″E / 37.21556°S 174.91889°E |
| Major events | D1NZ Formula Ford New Zealand V8s Toyota Racing Series V8 Supercars NZ Drift Series New Zealand Grand Prix |
| Length | 2.841 km (1.765 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Lap record | 0:54.692 (Daniel Gaunt, Toyota Tatuus TT104ZZ, 2006) |
Although Pukekohe Park Raceway is better known internationally as a motor racing circuit, it is primarily a horse racing circuit in New Zealand. It is located 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south of Auckland City in the North Island. The track is now owned by Pukekohe Park Limited
It was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore (an aerodrome) 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 1000km) featuring drivers such as Leo Leonard and Jim Richards. It 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.
In the centre of the circuit there is a horse racing course, which dictates the use of the site as it owned by the Counties Racing Club Inc, who have not invested a large amount of money in the motor racing track over the years and many would say that this is leading to its slow demise, even though the club holds very few horse race meetings each year, but it is used as a stables and training facility.
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[edit] The circuit
The circuit is currently 2.82 kilometres (1.8 mi) long, having been shortened from its original combined 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) length when combined with the now defunct club circuit. Its visibility is low because the corridor of Armco barriers is only inches from the track on both sides.[1] It is seen as one of the fastest of all southern hemisphere circuits with the lap record at around 55 seconds and a very long back straight leading into a 50 km/h (31 mph) hairpin. In order to win on this is a track, the driver needs good entry onto the back straight. Furthermore, the driver also needs to drive the car right to its full potential.[1]
The car racing track is rated FIA grade 3 and National Grade 1.
In 1996 the New Zealand Mobil Sprints Pukekohe Round.
[edit] V8 Supercars
The final ever V8 Supercar Round at Pukekohe was held on the 20-22 April 2007.
The round winners of the Australian V8 Supercars at Pukekohe.
- 2001 - Greg Murphy - K-mart Racing Team - Holden
- 2002 - Greg Murphy - K-mart Racing Team - Holden
- 2003 - Greg Murphy - K-mart Racing Team - Holden
- 2004 - Jason Bright - Paul Weel Racing - Holden
- 2005 - Greg Murphy - Paul Weel Racing - Holden
- 2006 - Mark Skaife - Holden Racing Team - Holden
- 2007 - Rick Kelly - HSV Dealer Team - Holden
[edit] References
- ^ a b "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. n.d.. http://www.toyotaracing.co.nz/default.aspx?pageid=615&yearflag=2009. Retrieved 2009-11-10.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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