Timaru International Motor Raceway is a motor racing circuit situated about 10 minutes or outside of Timaru, New Zealand. The circuit is accessible from either State Highway 1 or the Timaru-Pleasant Point Highway. It is often called Levels because of its previous name Levels Raceway. The Timaru International Motor Raceway holds some of the major sporting events on New Zealand's motorsport calendar.
History
Before Timaru International Motor Raceway was born there was The South Canterbury Car Club Inc, which was formed in 1947 and were only running hillclimbs and paddock events at the time. The club progressed from this to running the Waimate 50 Street Race on the streets of Waimate until 1966. In 1967 a street event was run in Timaru in the Craigie Avenue area. Land was then purchased at Falvey Road and a permanent circuit built, the first event held there was in November that year. The club continued to develop the venue running club and National Championship racing.
In 1988 the circuit length was increased to and developed to the international FIA category 3 standard that it is today, allowing the South Canterbury Car Club to run international events as well as National Championships, including the NZ V8 Touring Cars and Super Truck Racing. One of the events of Southern Festival of Speed, Bruce Pigeon Memorial, was held on 9 February to 10 February 2008.
The circuit The car racing track's surface is hard on tyres and brakes because it is chip tarmac. It has a mixture of tight "first and second" gear and fast flowing corners. It is rated FIA grade 3.
Lap Records
The official lap record for the Timaru International Motor Raceway is 0:56.260, set by Greg Murphy in January 1995. As of October 2021, the fastest official race lap records at the Timaru International Motor Raceway are listed as:
Category Time Driver Vehicle Date Long Circuit (1988–present): Formula Holden 0:56.260 Greg Murphy Reynard 92D January 1995 Toyota Racing Series 0:57.693 Jann Mardenborough Tatuus TT104ZZ 19 January 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup 1:00.390 Ryan Wood Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 16 October 2021 NZ Touring Cars (TLX) 1:03.689 Jason Bargwanna Toyota Camry 19 January 2014 TCR Touring Car 1:04.056 Rhys Gould Hyundai i30 N TCR 16 October 2021 Formula Ford 1:05.240 Richie Stanaway Mygale SJ08a January 2009 NZ Touring Cars (TL) 1:06.330 Angus Fogg Ford Falcon (BA) 22 January 2012 Short Circuit (1988–present): Formula Ford 0:43.721 James Munro Mygale SJ08a January 2012
Notes
References
External links Official Site