Highlands Motorsport Park

The Highlands Motorsport Park is a motor racing circuit in Cromwell, Otago, New Zealand. Opened in 30 March 2013,[1] the facility features a 4.100 km (2.548 mi) circuit.

Highlands Motorsport Park
LocationCromwell, Otago
Time zoneUTC+12:00
Coordinates45°03′26″S 169°09′52″E / 45.05722°S 169.16444°E / -45.05722; 169.16444
FIA Grade3
OwnerTony Quinn
Broke groundApril 2012; 12 years ago (2012-04)
Opened30 March 2013; 11 years ago (2013-03-30)
Major eventsCurrent:
FR Oceania (2014, 2019–2020, 2023–present)
New Zealand Grand Prix (2024)
Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Championship (2013, 2019–2020, 2022, 2024)
Former:
Australian GT Highlands 101 (2013–2016)
Aussie Racing Cars (2015, 2023)
Racer Products V8s (2019)
V8SuperTourer (2014)
Websitehttp://www.highlands.co.nz
Full Circuit (2013–present)
Length4.100 km (2.548 miles)
Turns22
Race lap record1:28.910 (New Zealand Liam Lawson, Tatuus FT-50, 2019, TRS)
'A' Course (2013–present)
Length1.133 km (0.704 miles)
Turns7
'B' Course (2013–present)
Length1.090 km (0.677 miles)
Turns2
'C' Course (2013–present)
Length1.496 km (0.930 miles)
Turns7

Circuit

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The circuit offers on and off track driving, an outdoor go-kart track, off-road buggy driving, a sculpture park and "The Nose" restaurant. It is also the home of the New Zealand National Motorsport Museum, and displays machinery including ex-Formula One cars.

In early 2016, Highlands acquired the only Aston Martin Vulcan in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of only 24 worldwide, for $4.2 million.[2] The car is the most expensive production vehicle in New Zealand,[citation needed] It is currently on display at the National Motorsport Museum at the park. In 2016 the park introduced the Highlands Festival of Speed, held annually in mid-January.[3]

Layout configurations

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Highlands 101

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The Highlands 101 was an endurance race held annually at the Highlands Motorsport Park from 2013 to 2016, in conjunction with the final round of the Australian GT Championship.[4]

Past winners

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Year Drivers Entrant Car Report
2013   Tony Quinn
  Fabian Coulthard
VIP Holdings Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Report
2014   Tony Quinn
  Garth Tander
VIP Holdings Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Report
2015   Klark Quinn
  Shane van Gisbergen
VIP Holdings McLaren 650S GT3 Report
2016   Craig Baird
  Michael Almond
Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Report

Lap records

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The unofficial all-time track record is 1:23.753, set by Liam Lawson, driving a Rodin FZED, on 16 January 2022.[5][6] As of February 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Highlands Motorsport Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Full Circuit: 4.100 km (2013–present)
Formula Regional 1:28.830[7]   Liam Sceats Tatuus FT-60 17 February 2024
Toyota Racing Series 1:28.910[8]   Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-50 12 January 2019
GT3 1:31.365[9]   Craig Baird[10] Mercedes-AMG GT3 12 November 2016
Trans-Am Australia 1:39.919[11]   Nathan Herne Dodge Challenger[12] 18 February 2024
Toyota 86 Championship 1:52.191[13]   Callum Quin Toyota 86 9 November 2013
'A' & 'C' Course: 2.910 km (2013–present)[14]
TCR Touring Car 1:12.483[14][15]   Chris van der Drift Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 23 April 2021

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "'World-class' motorsport park opens in Cromwell". Otago Daily Times. 30 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Tony Quinn unveils $4.2 million Aston Martin Vulcan supercar in Cromwell". Stuff. 9 April 2016.
  3. ^ Pattison, Catherine (2 February 2016). "Motorsport: Perkins, Falcon to fore in Central Muscle Cars races". Otago Daily.
  4. ^ "Australian GT: Highlands Motorsports Park, Race Report | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com.
  5. ^ "Motorsport NZ Premier Championship - Rodin laps - Demonstration Lap times (15 Jan)". 16 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Motorsport NZ Premier Championship >> Rodin laps - Demonstration Lap times (16 Jan)". Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Sceats stays in FRegional Oceania title fight with Highlands race one win". Formula Scout. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Speedworks Rd 2 - Toyota Racing Series Race 4 - 15 Laps Grid Start - 12/01/2019" (PDF). 12 January 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Australian GT Highlands 2016". 12 November 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  10. ^ "2016 Australian GT Championship - Driver Database". Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  11. ^ "2023–24 Super Sprint NZ Championship - Round 6 - TA2 - Race 2 - Results". 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Herne last to first win to claim first TA2 Trans Tasman Title". 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  13. ^ "2023–24 Toyota 86 Championship Round 04 | 16–18 February 2024 - Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell". 9 November 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b "2021 TCR Super Production Championship >> TCR Super Production - TCR Super Production - Race 2". 23 April 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  15. ^ "TCR NZ 2021 » Highlands Motorsport Park Round 2 Results". 23 April 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
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