Pukekohe Park Raceway

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**Pukekohe Park Raceway**


Location	Pukekohe, New Zealand
Time zone	GMT +12
Major Events	D1NZ, New Zealand V8's, Toyota Racing Series, V8 Supercars
Circuit Length	2.82 km (1.76 mi)
Turns	7

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 NZ 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 'down under' for a relaxed 'Tasman' series during the European winter.

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. 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.

It held an annual round of the popular Australian V8 Supercar race from 2001 to 2007. The NZ round moves to a new street circuit in Hamilton, New Zealand 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 it is used as a stables and training facility.

The car racing track is rated FIA grade 3 and National Grade 1.