New Zealand has been without an annual, iconic endurance motor racing event since the Wellington Street Race some 30 years ago. That’s now set to change, with the announcement of an annual Hampton Downs International 6-hour enduro.
Given the likely return of the New Zealand V8 Supercar round in 2024, the event date is still to be announced. It is, however, confirmed to take place at least a year after Highland Motorsport Park’s 10th anniversary 6-Hour Gala Event, which runs on November 5th next year.
The news comes direct from Josie Spillane, CEO of Tony Quinn’s NZ group of companies, and was revealed in a chat with Velocity News when she was asked whether the Highlands 6-Hour would become an annual event.
“Firstly, if we look back over the last two years,” she said, “I am immensely proud of what we achieved with TRS over Covid in 2021. The race of Champions at Hampton Downs, we will never be able to replicate that ever again”.
“The motorsport Gods of yesteryear were certainly shining down upon us for that race meeting—what an incredible highlight in a particularly challenging time”.
“When I started at Highlands, I soon learnt that the NZ Grand Prix was critically important to Tony [Quinn]. He believes it to be so undercooked, and he wants to be the one who bought it back, to be deserving of its mana, and to ensure the “Glitz and Glamour” that people aspire to be part of becomes a reality”.
“That objective has taken time, a journey we first approached in 2014, and at that time, it was a flat no because people did not know who we were and what we were doing. However, over time our relationship with Toyota and MSNZ has prevailed in what we believe is in the sport’s best interest,” she continues.
“Over the next few years, we will see the NZ International Grand Prix grow in status and popularity and become Highland’s signature event”.
“So, back to your original question about an ongoing 6-hour event: After considerable discussion within our advisory group, we believe that Hampton Downs is the best place to establish another iconic New Zealand annual International motor racing event as it already possesses the best endurance racing facilities in our group”.
“Hampton’s is also less than one hour from the Auckland International airport, downtown Auckland, and has motorway access to its doorstep. We also have the ability and resources to grow the 6-hour event to become truly international and make it as accessible as possible for spectators and competitors alike.”
“Meanwhile, Taupo Motorsport Park will continue to build on its annual International Historic race as its signature event, as it is ideally located in the heart of a major NZ tourism destination. We are delighted with the rapid progress we have made at Taupo since it became part of our circuit group, and there is more to come with our new membership initiative and the development of the site”.
Whilst our neighbours across the ditch are renowned for iconic endurance races at Mount Panorama, such as the Bathurst 1000, Bathurst 6-Hour and the Bathurst International 12-hour, it’s fitting New Zealand finally gets one back on the calendar at Hampton Downs.
Further information about the event will be revealed in due course.
Header Image: Josie Spillane, CEO of Tony Quinn’s New Zealand group of companies
