Race track to host running event
NZ Road Relay Championships head to Taupō
Organisers of the annual New Zealand Road Relay Championships have announced they will be taking the event off the road and onto the Taupō Motorsport Park track next year.
In a statement on its website Athletics NZ was pitching it as a “high octane”, “full throttle” and unique event that would see teams given one of the 32 pitlane garages to base themselves or a covered space in the pitlane itself, close to the start/finish line.
It said there were now “far fewer open road options” to host the championships, so the September 28 event would shift away from the traditional format.
Athletics NZ competitions manager Jason Cameron said they were hugely excited by the 2024 edition of the New Zealand Road Relay Championships, which they felt would provide “a unique and fulfilling experience” for athletes and spectators.
“We will do what we can to preserve our traditional road relay courses in the future, but for now we are fully committed to an exhilarating 2024 edition.
“I’m confident the atmosphere and camaraderie generated by being part of a central hub at Taupō Motorsport Park will create an absolute banger of an event. Let’s go racing.”
The 2022 edition was also held offroad at the closed circuit Bottle Lake Forest Park, but organisers said the event at Taupō Motorsport Park would be an event “quite like no other in the rich history of the annual championship”.
The motorsport course is undulating and about 3.5km long.
There would be short, medium, and long laps for the different championship grades, the atmosphere would also be different to a traditional road race with DJ’s, comperes and commentators providing the backdrop to one of the marquee days on the New Zealand athletics calendar.
Other new initiatives included the use of an electronic leaderboard allowing athletes and spectators clear updates of the state of play as teams battled it out for team honours.
Besides the traditional championship there would also be opportunities for social and corporate teams to enter the event.
Organisers also touted other benefits of the venue like good parking, extensive warm-up area and the opportunity for social and team building activities with access to the go karting track and other entertainment options as well as food and beverage options.
“Offering the additional bonus of a weekend away in one of New Zealand’s most attractive tourist destinations all teams are encouraged to book their accommodation early as the 2024 event takes place during the school holidays,” Athletics NZ said on its website. Cameron confirmed that the 2025 New Zealand Road Relay Championships would return to an open road format in Feilding in Manawatu on October 4.