Location | Taupo, New Zealand |
---|---|
Time zone | UTC+12:00 |
Coordinates | 38°39′56″S 176°8′39″E / 38.66556°S 176.14417°ECoordinates: 38°39′56″S 176°8′39″E / 38.66556°S 176.14417°E |
Major events |
A1GP D1NZ NZ Formula Ford Porsche GT3 Cup MINI Challenge New Zealand V8s Toyota Racing Series NZ Drift Series Super Lap V8SuperTourer New Zealand Superbikes superkarts |
Length | 3.5 km (2.17 mi) |
Turns | 14 |
Lap record | 1:14.072 (Nico Hülkenberg, A1 Team Germany A1GP Zytek, 2007, A1GP) |
Website | www |
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.
The circuit is considered to be the best facility of its type in New Zealand, and the only circuit in the country with an FIA Grade 2 rating. 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. The Motorsort 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.
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. Due to the tight ‘s’ bend close to the start cause collisions in the pass, the rolling start replaced by a standing start for the 2009 event's Sprint race.
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. However, on 8 May 2008 Newstalk ZB reported that the motorsport park is NZ$3 million in debt and the owners are seeking equity to help keep their business afloat.
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.