Hamilton Street Circuit

Hamilton Street Circuit
Location Hamilton, New Zealand
Time zone GMT +12
Coordinates 37°47′8″S 175°16′5″E / 37.78556°S 175.26806°E / -37.78556; 175.26806Coordinates: 37°47′8″S 175°16′5″E / 37.78556°S 175.26806°E / -37.78556; 175.26806
Major events V8 Supercars
Length 3.4 km (2.1 mi)
Turns 9
Lap record 1:22.8736 (Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing, 2012, V8 Supercars)

Hamilton Street Circuit was a temporary street circuit in Hamilton, New Zealand. From 2008 to 2012 it hosted the Hamilton 400 as part of the V8 Supercars championship.

From 2010 to 2012, ITM, New Zealand's largest group of independent trade building supplies, sponsored the race and it became known as the ITM 400 Hamilton.[1]

Criticisms

Some residents of the city wanted the V8s gone, as they took over city streets and blocked residents from entering and exiting their own homes.[2]

On 14 December 2010, The New Zealand Herald reported that Julie Hardaker, the newly elected Mayor of Hamilton, and some councilors appointed an independent auditor to audit the cost of the race. The figures released on 14 December suggested that a NZ$3.5m cost to change the event to a different promoter (the original promoter, Caleta Streetrace Management, was collapsed in 2010), NZ$5.1m for operational costs and NZ$20.3m for set-up costs. The sum (NZ$27.4 million) did not include "commercially confidential" amounts such as event sponsorship payments.[3]

The cost to run the V8 Supercar event was eventually deemed too great[4] and the final V8 Supercar race was held on April 22, 2012; it was won by Mark Winterbottom.[5]

The circuit

Hamilton Street Circuit is 3.4 km long runs in a clockwise direction around the Frankton business district with the pit lane and main straight located on Mill Street. The circuit also goes alongside the Seddon Park and the Waikato Stadium.[6] It is generally a narrow race track with armco and concrete lined sides but it can be fast[7] and flowing.[8] There are plenty of passing opportunities and those who quickly dial into the contained style of street racing have the most success. The circuit is not very forgiving if the driver get off the racing line because it is surrounded by the aforementioned fences and concrete barriers.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Eric (2009-10-28). "Motorsport: ITM deal boosts Hamilton 400". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Hamilton resident seeks to stop V8s". 3 News NZ. April 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Motorsport: Mayor "horrified" by cost of Hamilton V8s". nzherald.co.nz. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  4. ↑ "Pukekohe V8s to feature four races". 3 News NZ. March 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Mark Winterbottom wins thrilling final race at Hamilton ITM 400". 3 News NZ. April 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "ITM Hamilton 400, New Zealand". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  7. ↑ "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. n.d. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  8. ↑ "ITM Hamilton 400, New Zealand". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  9. ↑ "New Hamilton street circuit will be quick, southern drivers say". drivesouth.co.nz. 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2009-10-30.

External links

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