Red, Orange, Green … Go!
Thrilling the crowd
The track has achieved a number of licences, and was the first New Zealand race track to achieve the FIA’s grade two licensing requirements – with a significantly lower budget than those built overseas.
As planned, Taupo Motorsport Park was ready to host its first event in 2006. Then, in January 2007, over 70,000 spectators witnessed the A1GP, together with a worldwide audience of 120 million. Economic benefits easily exceeded the $19 million expected for an international event.
The A1GP returned to Taupo in January 2008, when New Zealand driver Jonny Reid thrilled the crowd by winning the sprint race and placing fourth in the feature race. He was only the second A1GP driver to win a home race.
“The A1GP is the biggest motorsport event in New Zealand,” says Mr Flannery. “Even for a non-motorsport person, to see something on that scale on a track that was only a dream a few years ago is amazing. It’s fantastic when you can work hard and achieve a hard deadline, and get full utilisation straight away.”
The facility is well used, even when there’s no big event on the calendar. “There’s a positive feel because there’s always people around,” says Mr Flannery. “It has great corporate facilities, a business park and associated infrastructure, pit garages, and so many track configurations. The facility fits into the landscape so well that the terrain appears to have been built up around the park over time and belies the fact that the motorsport park is such a recent development.”
Mr Maskell says the success of the A1GP and recognition of Taupo Motorsport Park as a world class facility has resulted in negotiations to host other major events, particularly world championship motorcycle events.
“All those involved in the delivery of the Taupo Motorsport Park can have enormous satisfaction that they have created a significant national asset.”
