Why Supercars will work in Taupō
In less than a week the roar of V8 Supercars will reverberate around Taupō, more than a decade after they were seen on Hamilton streets.
While Hamiltonians initially embraced the event, cracks started in appear in the promoters’ plans even before the first green flag dropped, and it ended with a tarnished legacy and a big bill for ratepayers.
So can the Taupō event be a success and have we learned from past mistakes?
A motorsport legend thinks so, pointing out the permanent track and touristy location, while Taupō’s mayor says the council has a cap on contributions.
Things were a bit different in Hamilton where, in February 2006, mayor Michael Redman announced a deal bringing V8 Supercars for a street race costing ratepayers $7m over seven years.
The Hamilton 400 was held from 2008 to 2012 on a street circuit located in Frankton’s business district.
Initially touted as a huge coup for Hamilton, with promises of economic benefits in the tens of millions and large, increasing crowds, it came to an abrupt halt in 2012.
Promoters pulled out of the seven-year deal, paying the council $1.2m to exit two years early.
The suggested revenues did not flow, the event's first promoters needed propping up with cash advances, costs climbed, and crowds dwindled.
Two years later those costs - for street improvements, seating, safety and crowd control - had ballooned to $14m.
In October 2010 Julie Hardaker was elected mayor, promising to open the books on the V8s.
A subsequent council report confirmed they’d cost ratepayers $27.4m, excluding confidential event sponsorship understood by the Waikato Times to be at least another $4m.
Audit New Zealand slammed the council, saying it had clear information as far back as June 2006 that the total cost would be more than $20 million.
Fast-forward 12 years and, after the last Supercars race at Pukekohe in 2022, the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400 will be raced at the Taupō International Motorsport Park from April 19 to 21.
The Taupō bid was helped by a $5 million investment over three years from the Government’s Major Events Fund and a further $900,000 over three years from the Taupō District Council.
Supercars and the track’s owner Tony Quinn have entered a three-year contract to race in Taupō, with the right for future renewals.
It’s this set-up that has convinced Kiwi motorsport legend and four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy that Taupō will be a success.
“It’s a shame it had to be labelled a debacle in Hamilton.
“The concept was a good one for motorspo
“rt and for the fans, but the location did not produce what the intention was. There were lots of rumblings about support from bureaucrats and officials, and it seemed to be doomed from the start from what I heard.”
He said Taupō ticked all the boxes. “Being a permanent race track means you don’t have the issues around the putting up of a track ... there’s a big catchment and Taupō is a wonderful tourist destination.
“It’s only a short drive from the track to a great town which is used to providing services to people and holding big events.
“The return on investment for local and central government will be big and it will put Taupō on the motorsport map globally and make it a special place for future events.”