Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park

Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park (previously known as the Taupo Motorsport Park) is a motorsports circuit located in Broadlands Road, Taupo, New Zealand. It is owned and operated by MIT Development Ltd.

Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park
Taupo Motorsport Park
LocationTaupo, New Zealand
Time zoneUTC+12:00
Coordinates38°39′56″S 176°8′39″E
FIA Grade2
Major eventsA1GP
D1NZ
NZ Formula Ford

MINI Challenge
New Zealand V8s
Toyota Racing Series
NZ Drift Series
Super Lap
New Zealand Superbikes
superkarts
Length3.5 km (2.17.555 mi)
Turns14
Race lap record1:14.072 (Nico Hülkenberg, A1 Team Germany A1GP Zytek, 2007, A1GP)
Websitewww.tauporacetrack.co.nz

The circuit was an upgrade from a 1.4 km Taupo Car Club's circuit to the new 3.5 km (2.2 mi) international layout in 2006.[1] The Motorsport Park was completed in 2006 at the cost of NZ$13 million. It features driver training facilities, a motorsport business park with 13 first floor corporate suites and a second floor race control, corporate and catering complex.

History

On 21 January 2007 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the sixth race in the 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix season and on 20 January 2008 it hosted the fifth race in the 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix season. In order to create more overtaking opportunities, a tighter chicane was introduced at the end of the straight. On 25 January 2009 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the fourth race in the 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. Owing to the tight 'S' bend close to the start causing collisions in the past, the rolling start was replaced by a standing start for the 2009 event's Sprint race.[1]

The Taupo Race Track project has received a Silver Award by the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand, praising the high-quality delivery of the project, which was designed and constructed in tandem to achieve very tight deadlines.[2] However, on 8 May 2008 Newstalk ZB reported that the motorsport park was NZ$3 million in debt and the owners were seeking equity to help keep their business afloat. [3]

The circuit was renamed Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on 26 November 2015, as a tribute to former Formula One driver and team owner Bruce McLaren. The renaming occurred as Taupo directors announced they would be rebuilding the circuit to maintain its FIA Grade 2 status.[4]

The circuit

The track includes four alternative configurations (consisting of 3.5 km, 3.4 km, 2.2 km and 1.3 km), two separate pit areas, a three-story pit lane complex with 32 ground floor pit garages that is currently under construction. The track also features an NHRA standard dragstrip (830-metre long, 17 metres wide) with full capacity viewing for 10,000. The motor racing circuit has various licences ranging from National Grade 1 Motorsport Licence, FIA Grade 2 Motorsport Licence and International Motorcycling Safety Standards depending on which track configuration.[5][6] A1 Team Ireland's driver Adam Carroll commented that the track has few bumps and is technical and tight.[1]

References
  1. "OFFICIAL PREVIEW: Taupo". a1gp.com. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  2. Taupo Race Track – Innovate NZ, Brochure of the '2007 ACENZ Awards of Excellence', Page 18
  3. "Motorsport: Taupo cash crisis won't hurt A1GP". a1gp.com. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  4. "Taupo renamed after legendary Bruce McLaren". speedcafe.com. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  5. "More about the Taupo Track". downforce.co.nz. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  6. "The Track". tauporacetrack.co.nz. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
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