Pukekohe enters battle for NZGP
A third contender has entered the battle to host the New Zealand Grand Prix from 2018.
Pukekohe Park Raceway, combined with ATEED, have registered interest in being the venue New Zealand Motorsport’s most prestigious race, contested in the final race of the single-seater Toyota Racing Series, now that its 10-year contract with Manfeild, in Feilding, has come top an end.
Manfeild hosted the 62nd running of the event on the weekend.
Speedworks, who promote all eight stops on the Motorsport Championship calender which includes the five rounds of the Toyota Racing Series, will make the call on where the event will be held from next year.
Concerns over sparse crowds and a lack of interest in the event provoked plenty of criticism from Hampton Downs owner Tony Quinn last year, who has been vocal in his desire to bring the event to northern Waikato.
But Manfeild has continued to fight to retain it.
The start of Manfeild’s bid for an extension to its 10-year run hosting the NZGP was on display on the weekend with a muchimproved showing in terms of crowd.
Manfeild was buoyed by good weather and some quality racing on the track, not to mention a couple of spectacular crashes which helped build interest.
Speedworks managing director Geoff Short was pleased with what he saw from Manfeild this year, but stressed the need for further improvement.
‘‘Crowd-wise it was significantly better than where it has been for some years,’’ he said.
‘‘This was a good progression from where they were last year, but they are not where I want to be with it yet, that is for sure."
Manfeild chief executive Julie Keane was pleased with how the weekend ran and hoped it would help their attempt to retain it.
‘‘We have done everything that we possibly could. We have sent a really strong message to Motorsport New Zealand and to the future promoter of what it is we have to offer.’’
If Manfeild were to lose the NZGP, they would still likely host a round of the TRS, but would have less support categories with it.
Christchurch’s Ruapuna proved the highlight of the TRS in terms of attendance.
‘‘Ruapuna was exceptional,’’ Short said. ‘‘I know in dollar terms we were about $40,000 ahead which was a big boost for us.’’
Wet weather in Invercargill affected Teretonga’s turnout, while Taupo’s attendance was modest at best.
Short said Hampton Downs’ attendance was OK, but said there were other factors affecting it including two classic car events being held at the track the two weekends prior to them.
‘‘[The crowd] was much better than what it had been in years before, but I did not spend money marketing because it is such a tough place to market. You have to throw a decent amount of money to get a crowd there and I was not willing to take that risk. We have been fairly conservative in terms of marketing and making sure that we get a return on the event.’’
Short said they would be looking to be the sole promoter and take care of marketing for the New Zealand Grand Prix.
He hoped to have a decision locked in by the end of March.