Hampton Downs
Encyclopedia
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is situated in North Waikato
(between Auckland
and Hamilton
), New Zealand
near the Meremere drag strip
and the dirt track club. The motorsport
park is an ambitious privately funded enterprise and the construction began 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 also includes 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 5 days a week for driver training and various industry promotions. Currently in construction is a purpose built skid pan, pit building, hospitality suites, SUV Course, Jet Sprint Course, Paint Ball Arena, Commando Course, Corporate Karting Circuit, Business Park, Business Apartments (with 7-car garages) and a national Museum.
suggested spectator will be pleased from the Hampton Downs circuit because it is wide enough for passing. He also suggested the tricky circuit rewards sweet-handling cars and good race car drivers.
, tennis court
, fitness club and restaurant
for the use of residents / guests.
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.
Formula One
car. Its full simulation also had been analyzed by FIA.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
(between Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
), New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
near the Meremere drag strip
Meremere
Meremere is a small town in the northern Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the east bank of the Waikato River, 50 kilometres north of Hamilton....
and the dirt track club. The motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
park is an ambitious privately funded enterprise and the construction began 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
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
without the restrictions imposed by tracks that share the use with the horse racing fraternity like Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Although Pukekohe Park Raceway is better known internationally as a motor racing circuit, it is primarily a horse racing circuit in New Zealand. It is located south of Auckland City in the North Island. The track is now owned by Pukekohe Park Limited...
. It also reflects a modern approach to motor race track design and associated amenities. The 450ha development also includes 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 5 days a week for driver training and various industry promotions. Currently in construction is a purpose built skid pan, pit building, hospitality suites, SUV Course, Jet Sprint Course, Paint Ball Arena, Commando Course, Corporate Karting Circuit, Business Park, Business Apartments (with 7-car garages) and a national Museum.
The circuit
The track consists of two independent circuits that can also be combined to form one large circuit. The circuits' direction are clockwise. Its surface is impressively smooth and mix with blind bends and crests and bends. The undulating medium circuit incorporates the long front straight (950m long with a kink in the middle and a 12m rise and fall) is 2.8 km long with six corners and includes pit garages. The short track is 1.2 km long with four corners. The back straight is a flat 750m. Both tracks can combine into a 3.8 km circuit with five right-hand and four left-hand corners with at least four good passing opportunities. instructor and A1GP veteran Jonny ReidJonny Reid
Jonathan Ross Reid, more commonly known as Jonny Reid, is a New Zealand racing driver. Reid comes from a well-known New Zealand racing family. Both his grandfather and his father were known kiwi racers. His father, Clayton Reid, was a New Zealand champion in karting...
suggested spectator will be pleased from the Hampton Downs circuit because it is wide enough for passing. He also suggested the tricky circuit rewards sweet-handling cars and good race car drivers.
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 the motel 'pool' and are able to accommodate up to six people. Ultimately, the complex will include a swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
, fitness club and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
for the use of residents / guests.
Track facilities and specification
The track has been designed for FIAFédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
Level 2 usage, which is just one step below Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
. 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
Jonny Reid
Jonathan Ross Reid, more commonly known as Jonny Reid, is a New Zealand racing driver. Reid comes from a well-known New Zealand racing family. Both his grandfather and his father were known kiwi racers. His father, Clayton Reid, was a New Zealand champion in karting...
) and corporate events at Hampton Downs. California Superbike School
Keith Code
Keith Code is a former motorcycle racer,writer, and founder of the California Superbike School.He has been called "arguably the best known and most successful on-track motorcycle instructor in the world".-Rider training:...
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.
Demonstrations
The track had been modeled in 3D by Rmedia featuring a BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
car. Its full simulation also had been analyzed by FIA.