5 PUKEKOHE'S FIVE BIGGEST SUPERCARS MOMENTS
Over the 11 years that Pukekohe Park has held a spot on the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship calendar, the characterful little circuit has generated a mountain of incredible memories. As we prepare for year 12 this weekend, here are five of the best.
1 The first race Though the Supercars visited Pukekohe Park in the mid-90s, the inaugural Boost Mobile V8 International in 2001 was considered to be the grand big bang for the series and the circuit. And it kicked off with a race draped in suitable amounts of drama.
A torrential downpour was expected to strike the circuit in the closing minutes. And once the rain hit, it hit hard. Most pitted for wets, including all the race leaders. But a few of the smaller teams stayed out in the hope of snaring a win.
This included Ford stalwart Mark Larkham, who held first with only three laps to go. Then, just as a flying Greg Murphy on wet tyres stole his lead, Larkham spun from second into the wall at Ford Mountain.
With conditions getting dangerous, officials red-flagged the race. Larkham was initially thought to be the winner on countback, until the win was ultimately declared as Murphy’s. Behind him the late Jason Richards finished an impressive fourth for Team Kiwi Racing.
2 Mighty Murph That win in the wet was backed up by a further two wins the following day for Greg Murphy. He won the round two more times in 2002 and 2003, and again in 2005 — making him the undisputed Prince of Pukekohe.
During these times, the circuit’s crowds bordered on mythical proportions. Fans would queue at the front gate from as early as 4am, in the hopes of securing a prime viewing spot at the infield.
The passion present and the amount of spectators (typically standing three or four people deep all the way around the track) made it feel like a mini-Bathurst.
It’s an aura that hasn’t returned since the series left Pukekohe at the end of 2007 to race in Hamilton.
Though he wasn’t the only Kiwi on the grid, a big part of this success was arguably Murphy’s hometown popularity. Perhaps the combined new-age success of Scott McLaughlin, Fabian Coulthard and Shane van Gisbergen might prompt a return to this level of hysteria?
3 Turn one carnage By now you should be aware