Pukekohe Park Raceway was a former car racing track that was situated on the outside of the Pukekohe Park Thoroughbred Racetrack, located in the surrounds of Pukekohe.

The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore Aerodrome as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. The car Raceway was designed around the horse racing track that has been hosting thoroughbred races since 1920.

The New Zealand Grand Prix was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway on 29 occasions, the first being in 1963, and the last in 2000.

Pukekohe Park Raceway's Grade 3 licence expired 1 August 2022. The owner of the grounds Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) announced that it would cease hosting motorsport events on 3 April 2023, citing a desire to focus on its horse racing events and club facilities.

History

The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore Aedrorome as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Annually for several years, the mainly European based Grand Prix drivers such as Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, would head downunder for a relaxed Tasman Series during the European winter.

For many years Pukekohe was the venue for New Zealand's premier production car race, the Benson and Hedges 500 mile race (later 1000 km) featuring drivers such as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Jim Richards. In 1996 the New Zealand Mobil Sprints held one round in Pukekohe. Pukekohe Park Raceway also held an annual round of the popular Australian V8 Supercar race from 2001 to 2007. However, the New Zealand round moved to Hamilton Street Circuit in 2008. On 5 July 2012, it was announced that V8 Supercars would return to the circuit in 2013 as part of a 5-year deal with the circuit operators following a series of upgrades to accommodate for the series' return.

The changes to the track included a series of corners before the hairpin turn, meaning safer, slower races. The upgrades also included a new race control building, timing building and corporate viewing facility opposite the main grandstand as well as the addition of overhead pedestrian bridges.

In the centre of the circuit there is a thoroughbred racing and training centre, which dictates the use of the site as it owned by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR). The club is host to 14 horse race meetings a year and is used six days a week as a stables and training facility.

On 20 July 2022, ATR announced that it would cease hosting motorsport events on 3 April 2023, citing a desire to focus on its horse racing events and club facilities. However, in August 2025, it was announced that D1NZ would return there in February 2026, and it would be the last motorsport event in there.

On 8 September 2022, iRacing announced that Pukekohe Park would be laser scanned and digitally preserved for sim racing after an online petition was launched. Over 7,000 digital signatures were collected and the petition gathered support from the "King of Pukekohe" Greg Murphy and three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin, both former Supercars race winners at Pukekohe.

Layout history

New Zealand Grand Prix

The New Zealand Grand Prix has been held at Pukekohe on 29 occasions, the first being in 1963, and the last to date being held in 2000. Between 1964 and 1975, the NZ Grand Prix at the circuit was also a round of the Tasman Series. Winners of the NZ Grand Prix at Pukekohe include Kiwis Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Craig Baird, and Paul Radisich, internationals such as Australian Frank Gardner, Italian Teo Fabi, and Brazilian Roberto Moreno, as well as Formula One World Champions John Surtees, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Keke Rosberg (Rosberg's wins in 1977 and 1978 were before his World Championship win in ).

Year Driver Car Entrant1963 John SurteesLola Mk4Bowmaker-Yeoman Credit Team1964 Bruce McLarenCooper T170Bruce McLaren Motor Racing1965 Graham HillBrabham BT11AScuderia Veloce1966 Graham HillBRM P261Owen Racing Organisation1967 Jackie StewartBRM P261R.H.H. Parnell1968 Chris AmonFerrari 246TChris Amon1969 Chris AmonFerrari 246TScuderia Veloce1970 Frank MatichMcLaren M10ARothmans Team Matich1971 Niel AllenMcLaren M10AN.E. Allen Auto Indust. (Pty) Ltd1972 Frank GardnerLola T300Lola Cars Ltd1973 John McCormackElfin MR5Ansett Team Elfin1975 Warwick BrownLola T332BDS Racing1976 Ken SmithLola T332Ken Smith1977 Keke RosbergChevron B34Fred Opert Racing1978 Keke RosbergChevron B341979 Teo FabiMarch 79B1980 Steve MillenRalt RT11981 Dave McMillanRalt RT11982 Roberto MorenoRalt RT4Goold Motorsport1983 David OxtonRalt RT41984 Davy JonesRalt RT41985 Ross CheeverRalt RT41986 Ross CheeverRalt RT41987 Davy JonesRalt RT41988 Paul RadisichRalt RT41989 Dean HallSwift Cosworth1990 Ken SmithSwift Cosworth1991 Craig BairdSwift Toyota2000 Andy BoothReynard Reynard 94DNRC International

Supercars Championship

In 2008 the Supercars Championship round in New Zealand moved to the Hamilton Street Circuit so Pukekohe held its final event on the weekend of 20–22 April 2007. In 2013 Supercars returned to Pukekohe after the Auckland government confirmed that stakeholders would put $6.6 million into making the circuit more suitable for Supercars. These upgrades include a new chicane on the back straight, more pedestrian bridges and a makeover of the circuit's appearance.

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Pukekohe Park Raceway are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date Grand Prix Circuit (2013–2023): DP 0:59.073 Glenn Smith Crawford DP03 1 April 2018 Formula Regional 0:59.995 Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-60 9 February 2020 Supercars 1:02.3719 Jamie Whincup Holden ZB Commodore 15 September 2019 Formula 4 1:06.4810 Ryan Suhle Mygale M14-F4 4 November 2018 Toyota 86 Championship 1:14.970 Ash Blewett Toyota 86 8 November 2015 Grand Prix Circuit (1967–2012): DP 0:51.807 Glenn Smith Crawford DP03 9 December 2018 Formula Holden 0:53.587 Matt Halliday Reynard 95D 2 December 2000 Formula 5000 0:54.980 Michael Collins McRae GM1 26 February 2023 Supercars 0:56.0781 Greg Murphy Holden VZ Commodore 16 April 2005 Formula One 0:58.900 Jochen Rindt Lotus 49T 4 January 1969 Group A 0:59.840 Jim Richards Nissan Skyline (BNR32) GT-R 8 December 1991 Super Touring 1:02.360 Paul Radisich Ford Mondeo Si 12 December 1993 Group B 1:04.340 Owen Evans Porsche Carrera RS 12 December 1993 Group N 1:09.070 Craig Baird BMW 325i Coupé 12 December 1993 Original Grand Prix Circuit (1963–1966): Formula One 1:25.700 Graham Hill BRM P261 8 January 1966

Notes

References

External links Pukekohe Park Official Website of V8 race NZV8s' Pukekohe Park Raceway info 2012 Upgrades (for April 2013 V8 Supercars)