Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
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| Location | North Waikato, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC +12 |
| Coordinates | 37°21′14″S 175°4′31″E / 37.35389°S 175.07528°ECoordinates: 37°21′14″S 175°4′31″E / 37.35389°S 175.07528°E |
| Major events |
Toyota Racing Series Australian GT Championship NZ Drift Series NZ Festival of Motor Racing NZ Touring Car Championship WRC V8SuperTourer |
| International Circuit | |
| Length | 3.8 km (2.361 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Lap record | 1:27.637 (Michael Lyons, , 2017, Historic Formula 1) |
| National Circuit | |
| Length | 2.8 km (1.740 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Lap record | 0:59.483 (Michael Lyons, , 2014, F5000) |
| Club Circuit | |
| Length | 1.2 km (0.745 mi) |
| Turns | 4 |
The Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is situated in rural northern Waikato (about halfway between Auckland and Hamilton on the Waikato Expressway), New Zealand near the Meremere drag strip and the dirt track club.[1] The motorsport park is an ambitious privately-funded enterprise with construction beginning in February 2007. The completion was planned for late 2008, but a particularly wet winter pushed the opening out to October 2009. It is a major venue for local motorsport without the restrictions imposed by tracks that share the use with the horse racing fraternity like Pukekohe Park Raceway. It also reflects a modern approach to motor race track design and associated amenities. The 450ha development's initial plans also included an industrial park, events cafe, motor lodge, lifestyle blocks, 80-trackside apartments and convention centre (re-located Britomart Pavilion) and the track is already booked out five days a week for driver training and various industry promotions.
In 2015, Tony Quinn purchased the uncompleted complex and work started almost immediately to complete, based very much on the original plans. Currently being completed are hospitality suites, whilst an SUV Course has been running since 2013. A corporate karting circuit, business park, business apartments (with seven-car garages) and a museum, with administration centre and cafe are also in the short term plans.
Hampton Downs is now arguably the most technically advanced race circuit in the world, with complete integration between Alitrax control, start lights, flag point lights, pit lane lights, CCTV system, Mylaps timing, environmental sound monitoring, pit lane speed monitoring and large outdoor LED information displays. Most day to day operations are now fully automated including a vehicle safety system that monitors all vehicles on track and alerts the operator within 30sec if a vehicle stops on track.
The circuit
The track consists of two independent circuits that can be combined to form one large circuit. The direction of the circuits are clockwise. The track has a very smooth surface, and a mix of blind bends and crests which make it a challenging circuit for drivers.[2] The front straight is 950m long with a kink in the middle and has a 11m rise and fall, and the back straight is 750m long. The international circuit, which incorporates the long front straight and pit facilities, is 2.8 km long with seven corners. The club circuit is 1.2 km long with four corners. Both tracks can combine into a 3.8 km circuit with six right-hand and four left-hand corners.[3]
- (International Layout)
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(National Layout).png)
(Club Layout)
Accommodation
The 450ha includes 80-trackside apartments set in four blocks on the main straight, all of which were sold out within three weeks during September 2004. Many of the apartments are offered to rent as part of a motel and are able to accommodate up to six people. Ultimately, the complex will include a swimming pool, tennis court, fitness club and restaurant for the use of residents and guests.
Track facilities and specification
The track has been designed for FIA Level 2 usage, which is just one step below Formula One. Apart from racing, there will be an emphasis on the testing and driver training facility. Downforce will run driver training (instructed by A1GP veteran Jonny Reid) and corporate events at Hampton Downs. California Superbike School have signed up and base its New Zealand fleet of Suzuki GSXR600s at Hampton Downs to deliver professional rider training between-races events at Hampton Downs, as an extension of its worldwide network.[2]
Virtual models
Demonstrations
The track had been modeled in 3D by Rmedia[4] featuring a BMW Formula One car. Its full simulation also had been analyzed by FIA.[5]
Games
The Hampton Downs circuit was immortalized in the rFactor game by way of third-party generated content based off the early plans made before construction was initially complete. This content is available to download for public use.
Track events
The track has hosted several major events since it opened in 2009. The circuit also hosts a round of the Toyota Racing Series each summer, with three races being held during the event and the New Zealand Motor Cup being contested over the final race. The V8SuperTourer series held two yearly events at the circuit from its inception until its demise. The newly formed NZ Touring Car Championship now contests there annually. Many other events are held other the year including national events as well as local events.
Past Toyota Racing Series race winners
Since 2010, the Toyota Racing Series has been run an annual event at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Mitch Evans has accumulated the most race wins with six as well as the most round wins with three.
| Year | Driver | Team | Round Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 |  Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | Mitch Evans |
| Andrew Waite |
ETEC Motorsport | ||
 Sten Pentus |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2011 | Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | Mitch Evans |
| Jamie McNee |
ETEC Motorsport | ||
| Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2012 | Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | Nick Cassidy |
 Raffaele Marciello |
M2 Competition | ||
| Nick Cassidy |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2013 | Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | Mitch Evans |
| Nick Cassidy |
M2 Competition | ||
| Mitch Evans |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2014 |  Jann Mardenborough |
Giles Motorsport |  Andrew Tang |
 Steijn Schothorst |
M2 Competition | ||
| Martin Rump |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2015 |  Arjun Maini |
M2 Competition |  Brandon Maisano |
| Brandon Maisano |
M2 Competition | ||
| Sam MacLeod |
Giles Motorsport | ||
| 2016 | Lando Norris |
M2 Competition |  Pedro Piquet |
 Guanyu Zhou |
M2 Competition | ||
| Pedro Piquet |
M2 Competition | ||
| 2017 | Marcus Armstrong |
M2 Competition | Pedro Piquet |
| Enaam Ahmed |
Giles Motorsport | ||
 Thomas Randle |
Victory Motor Racing | ||
Lap Records
Lap records are only considered if set during the race.
Official Race Lap Records:
- International 3.8km Record - 1:27.637 by Michael Lyons in Historic F1 - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Sessions/4257595
- National 2.8km Record - 0:59.483 by Michael Lyons in F5000 - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Sessions/2955354
Official Qualifying/Practice times faster than the Race Lap Records:
- National 2.8km Record - 0:59.119 by Brandon Maisano in TRS - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Sessions/3368147
References
- ↑ Kara Segedin (2009-10-27). "Motorsport: New track has vvvroom with a view". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- 1 2 Jacqui Madelin (2009-11-08). "Motorsport: Opening blast on intriguing track". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ↑ http://www.hamptondowns.com/pages/65/the-circuit.htm Hampton Downs-The Circuit
- ↑ HamptonDowns (2008-05-14). "Hot Lap on Hampton Downs". youtube.com. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ↑ Eric Thompson (2009-07-01). "Motorsport: Hampton Downs races to finish". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-03-01.