Pukekohe Park Raceway
Address: |
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 Pukekohe , Auckland
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| Route type: | permanent race track | ||
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| Opening: | 1963 | ||
| Track layout | |||
| Route data | |||
| Route length: | 2.910 km (1.81 mi ) | ||
Coordinates: 37 ° 12 ′ 56 ″ S , 174 ° 55 ′ 8 ″ O
The Pukekohe Park Raceway is a motorsport racing circuit in Pukekohe , New Zealand . There is a racecourse in the infield of the route .
history
The originally 3.5 kilometer long raceway opened in 1963 and took over the role of organizer of the New Zealand Grand Prix in place of the temporary Ardmore Airfield Circuit .
For years, one of the main races since the 1960s was the "Benson and Hedges 500-Mile Race" (later 1000 kilometers), in which drivers like Peter Brock , Dick Johnson and Jim Richards competed. Between 1964 and 1975 the Grand Prix was also part of the Tasman Series , which attracted many drivers from Europe during the European winter .
The original course has not been used since 1967 and the route was changed for the first time. Now you no longer drove through the narrow first corner, which led into a hairpin. Instead, you turned right into a fast bend, which led to a chicane, before you got back on the old course.
1,973 died in a motorcycle race the Americans Cal Rayborn killed. He went off the track in the first corner after a technical defect and collided with the track barrier. As a result, the course came under repeated criticism because the safety precautions were no longer considered appropriate. In 1988 the course was added to the calendar of the then newly created FIA Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship together with the Wellington Street Circuit . In the hope of attracting other larger racing series, a new pit area was built in 1990.
In 1996 a New Zealand Mobil Sprints series race was held on the track. From 2001 to 2007 the V8 Supercars were also guests. In 2008 the race was then moved to the Hamilton Street Circuit . After the last race in Hamilton in 2012, new investments were made in Pukekohe. Among other things, the pit area was enlarged. In addition, the route boundaries have also been brought up to the new safety standards. The V8 Supercars have been driving in Pukekohe again since 2013.
The New Zealand Grand Prix
The New Zealand Grand Prix took place a total of 29 times in Pukekohe. For the first time in 1963. It was last driven in 2000 in Pukekohe.
| year | driver | vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 |
 John Surtees
|
Lola Mk4 - Climax |
| 1964 |
Bruce McLaren
|
Cooper T170 -Climax |
| 1965 |
Graham Hill
|
Brabham BT111A -Climax |
| 1966 |
Graham Hill
|
BRM P261 |
| 1967 |
Jackie Stewart
|
BRM P261 |
| 1968 |
Chris Amon
|
Ferrari 246T |
| 1969 |
Chris Amon
|
Ferrari 246T |
| 1970 |
 Frank Matich
|
McLaren M10A- Chevrolet |
| 1971 |
Niel Allen
|
McLaren M10A Chevrolet |
| 1972 |
Frank Gardner
|
Lola T300 -Chevrolet |
| 1973 |
John McCormack
|
Elfin MR5 - Repco Holden |
| 1975 |
Warwick Brown
|
Lola T332 Chevrolet |
| 1976 |
Ken Smith
|
Lola T332 Chevrolet |
| 1977 |
 Keke Rosberg
|
Chevron B34 |
| 1978 |
Keke Rosberg
|
Chevron B34 |
| 1979 |
 Teo Fabi
|
March 79B |
| 1980 |
Steve Millen
|
Ralt RT1 |
| 1981 |
Dave McMillan
|
Ralt RT1 |
| 1982 |
 Roberto Moreno
|
Ralt RT4 - Ford |
| 1983 |
David Oxton
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1984 |
 Davy Jones
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1985 |
Ross Cheever
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1986 |
Ross Cheever
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1987 |
Davy Jones
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1988 |
Paul Radisich
|
Ralt RT4 Ford |
| 1989 |
Dean Hall
|
Swift - Cosworth |
| 1990 |
Ken Smith
|
Swift Cosworth |
| 1991 |
Craig Baird
|
Swift Toyota |
| 2000 |
Andy Booth
|
Reynard 94D - Holden |