New Zealand Motor Cup

5‐7 February 2010
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Hampton Downs

Track Information

Circuit Length – 2.63kms

Direction – Clockwise

Hampton Downs introduces an exciting  innovation to New Zealand motorsport – sweeping elevations on a circuit that rises and falls away over gentle hill country in the Waikato region.

The six other permanent circuits in New Zealand are all laid out on a flat landscape.

Hampton Downs is the circuit that takes New Zealand motorsport into the 21^st century and has been designed to meet the very latest FIA circuit safety standards.

The contoured circuit with its banked corners introduces an entirely different dimension and offers spectacular viewing opportunities.

The new International circuit was only completed late last year so it will be an all new challenge for every driver.

The third round of the 2010 International season will be the first meeting for contemporary single seaters so there will be no ‘local advantage’ for the young Kiwi drivers.

Whoever is fastest in the racing on this opening International meeting at Hampton Downs will have the honour of establishing the first significant single seater lap record.

The all-new circuit has already been given an enthusiastic endorsement by Daniel Gaunt after the first shakedown test of a TRS car on the circuit .

The TRS Champion and NZGP winner was given a brief run by TRS management in preparation for the third round of the 2010 TRS Championship at the venue on February 5-7 .

“Racing a TRS car at Hampton Downs will be a special challenge – it’s like no other circuit in New Zealand,” said Gaunt.

“The elevation, the wide corners with lots of passing opportunities and the smooth surface; they all work together and in a modern single seater, the racing will be very good.”

Gaunt ran about 20 laps to confirm the initial set-up.

“It was a chance to confirm the gear ratios, establish the ride heights and get an initial aerodynamic balance on the car. We didn’t need to change much and had a trouble free run,” said Gaunt.

After 20 laps Gaunt was down to 64.6 seconds on the new 2.63km circuit and was confident there is more time to come when the circuit grips up with more use.

The testing data confirmed Gaunt was on full throttle for around 60 per cent of each lap and the average speed was 140kph.

“It’s a bit ‘green’ – like Taupo was when it first opened. Until some rubber goes down it is low grip and it is hard to get tyre temperatures; but you can see the potential because the corners flow so well.”

“Sitting in the car in the pit road I was thinking I was somewhere in Europe, surrounded by the rolling hill country and it all seemed very professional.

“Out on the track there was more elevation than I expected and you really need to think about your racing lines.

“You are in sixth gear down the long front straight – just slightly slower than Puke’s back straight – and the first corner is awesome. You go down two gears and the track drops away, a bit like Paddock Hill Bend at Brand Hatch. It’s challenging and you are hard on the gas as you exit

“The slower second gear infield corners work well and then you arrive over a crest and you are braking downhill for the second gear left-handed hairpin. This is mega because you are braking on the brow and the track drops away.

Gaunt’s initial impression was that the final corner, onto the front straight, was the most difficult and challenging at Hampton Downs.

“This is where you will make up time because you are in this corner for a long time – it’s a bit like turn one at Teretonga in that respect. You need to feed in the power and keep the car well balanced.

“And then you need to think about your line for the front straight because it is wide and there are several options”

The extended Taupo circuit and Hampton Downs are the two FIA International Grade 2 circuits in New Zealand.