LOCAL MARKET REPORT

The first ever round of Fast & Furious Racing was held at the Laser Plumbing & Electrical Hampton Downs 500 on October 28–29, where 18 competitors successfully launched the new racing format. Those entrants are now in the draw to win a supercharged 6.2-litre 2010 Chevrolet Camaro valued at $52,000, possibly the richest prize ever offered for a motorsport event in New Zealand.

“I think if you trawled through the history books, you’d struggle to find a more valuable prize in New Zealand motorsport history,” says Mike Marsden, commercial manager at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.

All those who enter the two-round 4 Guys Autobarn Fast & Furious Racing series go in the draw to win the Camaro, and for those who missed out on entering the first round, entry is now open for round two which will be held at Mad Mike’s Summer Bash on December 9. The event is open to all race cars, provided they have a full roll-cage and a Motorsport New Zealand log book.

Round two is limited to 47 cars, making for a one in 85 chance of winning not bad odds, if you ask us.

“It costs $595 to enter each round, and for that you get a raffle ticket to win the car, and a weekend of top-class motor racing on Hampton Downs international circuit,” Marsden says. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The new racing format has been described as motor sport’s version of Rugby Sevens or Twenty20 Cricket. The cars line up as usual for the race start, and after three laps they come together behind a safety car for a rolling restart, and another three-lap sprint to the finish line.

Entrants are qualified into different speed categories for four races, with the fastest qualifiers at the front of the grid in race one, with a reverse grid for races two and four, and the driver’s combined times deciding the order for Race three.

The organizer’s aim is to deliver short, action-packed races that give spectators and drivers alike more bang for their buck, and with a $52,000 Camaro up for grabs, you need a good reason not to enter.