Cajun
6th July 2006, 10:18
not to sure if this been put up yet
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3722571a1823,00.html
' Refurbished Taupo track to host grand prix
06 July 2006
By KENT ATKINSON
A New Zealand round of the A1 Grand Prix motor racing series – billed as the sport's "World Cup" – is scheduled to be staged at Taupo in January 2007, a few weeks before the Australian round.
It will mark the return to New Zealand of serious single-seater racing for the first time in 40 years, according to A1 GP chief operating officer David Clare.
The second season of the A1 GP series – an open-wheeler championship run in Formula One's off-season – is expected to feature 13 races, in 12 countries, including two in China.
In last year's series, one team from each of 25 countries competed for more than $NZ1.44 million prize money per race, with drivers in identical Lola-designed cars powered by 3.4 litre V8 engines.
New Zealand's entry – promoted as Black Beauty and driven by Matt Halliday – finished last year's inaugural series in fourth place, behind France, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
Mr Clare told the Pitpass motor racing website that New Zealanders had been left out of single-seater racing for too long "despite having given us (Chris) Amon, (Denny) Hulme, and (Bruce) McLaren".
"If all goes to plan, 2007 will kick off with the Black Beauty aiming to win on home soil at Taupo," he said.
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The Taupo motor racing track was officially opened on March 19 in a new $12.5 million motorsport park developed by private company, MIT Development Ltd.
The re-constructed 3.6km track incorporates the former 1.4km Taupo Car Club track, and has an 830m long main straight that doubles as a drag strip.
"There hasn't been a major (single-seater) race out there since the Tasman Series, and that's 40 years ago" Mr Clare said.
"They really love open wheel single-seater racing," he said. "The V8s do quite well there, but their culture is open-wheel racing".
Though the Taupo venue was still subject to final agreement, it already had a Grade 2 licence for its track, and would have a pit complex finished within three months.
Mr Clare said the siting of the track, equidistant between Auckland and Wellington, and in a major tourist area was a great opportunity.
"We've had tremendous support in New Zealand. . . and the link-up with Australia gets 2007 off to a great start".
The series will start in the Netherlands on October 1, with the sixth race scheduled for Taupo on January 21, two weeks before the Sydney race on February 4. The series is due to finish at Brands Hatch in England on April 29.
The series comes 40 years after the heyday of NZ single-seater racing, Chris Amon's historic win, with the late Bruce McLaren, in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, with Denny Hulme sharing the second-placed car in that year's Le Mans which was totally dominated by the factory Ford GT40 team.
'
By looking at the a1gp website
it looks it will be the 21st of January, First race after the stop for xmas/ new years.
I know i will be going to this event. but be interesting to see how the stop people watching from the side of the road, due to how the track is placed. (unless that part of road is closed for the event) Also be interesting to see how they arrive, since the previous race is 17th December in dubai, will they be moved via sea to NZ. (might even come thru my work)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3722571a1823,00.html
' Refurbished Taupo track to host grand prix
06 July 2006
By KENT ATKINSON
A New Zealand round of the A1 Grand Prix motor racing series – billed as the sport's "World Cup" – is scheduled to be staged at Taupo in January 2007, a few weeks before the Australian round.
It will mark the return to New Zealand of serious single-seater racing for the first time in 40 years, according to A1 GP chief operating officer David Clare.
The second season of the A1 GP series – an open-wheeler championship run in Formula One's off-season – is expected to feature 13 races, in 12 countries, including two in China.
In last year's series, one team from each of 25 countries competed for more than $NZ1.44 million prize money per race, with drivers in identical Lola-designed cars powered by 3.4 litre V8 engines.
New Zealand's entry – promoted as Black Beauty and driven by Matt Halliday – finished last year's inaugural series in fourth place, behind France, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
Mr Clare told the Pitpass motor racing website that New Zealanders had been left out of single-seater racing for too long "despite having given us (Chris) Amon, (Denny) Hulme, and (Bruce) McLaren".
"If all goes to plan, 2007 will kick off with the Black Beauty aiming to win on home soil at Taupo," he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Taupo motor racing track was officially opened on March 19 in a new $12.5 million motorsport park developed by private company, MIT Development Ltd.
The re-constructed 3.6km track incorporates the former 1.4km Taupo Car Club track, and has an 830m long main straight that doubles as a drag strip.
"There hasn't been a major (single-seater) race out there since the Tasman Series, and that's 40 years ago" Mr Clare said.
"They really love open wheel single-seater racing," he said. "The V8s do quite well there, but their culture is open-wheel racing".
Though the Taupo venue was still subject to final agreement, it already had a Grade 2 licence for its track, and would have a pit complex finished within three months.
Mr Clare said the siting of the track, equidistant between Auckland and Wellington, and in a major tourist area was a great opportunity.
"We've had tremendous support in New Zealand. . . and the link-up with Australia gets 2007 off to a great start".
The series will start in the Netherlands on October 1, with the sixth race scheduled for Taupo on January 21, two weeks before the Sydney race on February 4. The series is due to finish at Brands Hatch in England on April 29.
The series comes 40 years after the heyday of NZ single-seater racing, Chris Amon's historic win, with the late Bruce McLaren, in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, with Denny Hulme sharing the second-placed car in that year's Le Mans which was totally dominated by the factory Ford GT40 team.
'
By looking at the a1gp website
it looks it will be the 21st of January, First race after the stop for xmas/ new years.
I know i will be going to this event. but be interesting to see how the stop people watching from the side of the road, due to how the track is placed. (unless that part of road is closed for the event) Also be interesting to see how they arrive, since the previous race is 17th December in dubai, will they be moved via sea to NZ. (might even come thru my work)