Teretonga (meaning "Swift South" in Māori) is a motor racing circuit situated south-west of Invercargill, New Zealand. It is home of the Southland Sports Car Club. The circuit was established in 1957 and was the southernmost FIA-recognised race track in the world prior to 2023; it has now been succeeded by the Autódromo Enrique Freile in Argentine Patagonia. It is also the country's oldest purpose-built venue.

Regular racing programme includes rounds of the local Clubmans Series; featuring rounds of South Island Racing Registers and a very large Classic Car meeting in February of each year. The circuit is also used for Sprints and Motorkhanas. Other clubs run Motor Cycle and Drag Races at Teretonga. Regarded by many drivers as the best and safest track in the country, it has been up-graded on a continual basis.

History

Since 1948, the Southland Sports Car Club Inc. has been one of the leading Clubs in the country. The Club entered the International motor race series in 1956 with the fastest-ever motor race on a road circuit at Ryal Bush. This led to the construction of Teretonga Park in 1957 at Sandy Point, the second purpose-built motor racing track in New Zealand. It was extended to its present configuration in December 1966. In the golden age of NZ Motor Racing in the '60s and '70s, Teretonga hosted many of the world's greatest drivers for example, (Stirling Moss), Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, Phil Hill, the list goes on. There is a fine display of memorabilia in the Clubrooms. Since 1981, the club has been actively engaged in the New Zealand Rally Championship. On 29 November 1998, the current outright lap record was set by Greg Murphy in a Formula Holden Reynard 92D The time was 0:51.206 at an average lap speed of . The New Zealand Grand Prix was first held on Teretonga in 13 January 2002. A record number of entries were received for this event, and it had been held at Teretonga for 6 years until 13 January 2007 On 16 February to Sunday 17 February 2008, the "Leitch Motorsport/Southland Times Speed Fest", which was one of the events of Southern Festival of Speed, was held at Teretonga.

The circuit

As of 2025, a lap was long, and run in anticlockwise direction with an main straight and a very high speed loop with multiple apexes. It flows smoothly from turns 1 through to 5. The circuit is exposed to a strong sea breeze and often forces gearbox and setup changes.

Lap records

The official lap record for the Teretonga Park is 0:51.206, set by Greg Murphy in 29 November 1998. As of January 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Teretonga Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date Full Circuit: (December 1966–present) Formula Holden 0:51.206 Greg Murphy Reynard 92D 29 November 1998 Toyota Racing Series 0:53.109 Lance Stroll Tatuus FT-50 24 January 2015 Formula Regional 0:53.660 Ugo Ugochukwu Tatuus FT-60 25 January 2026 Formula 5000 0:53.762 Michael Collins McRae GM1 17 February 2019 GT3 0:54.428 Andrew Fawcett McLaren 720S GT3 24 September 2022 Group 7 0:56.040 Jay Esterer McLaren M6B 10 February 2008 Tasman Formula 0:58.000 Piers Courage Brabham BT24 25 January 1969 Porsche Carrera Cup 0:58.341 David Reynolds Porsche 911 (997 I) GT3 Cup 18 January 2009 NZ Touring Cars (TLX) 0:59.276 Jack Smith Holden Commodore (VE) 20 January 2019 TCR Touring Car 1:00.523 James Penrose Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 24 September 2022 Group 4 1:02.047 Murray Sinclair Chevron B16 17 February 2013 TA2 1:02.172 Toby Elmiger Ford Mustang TA2 25 January 2026 Formula Ford 1:02.189 Martin Short Mygale SJ07a 16 January 2010 NZ Touring Cars (TL) 1:02.263 John McIntyre Ford Falcon (BA) 16 January 2005 Group 5 1:02.470 Tom Malloy Lola T70 2 October 2002 Toyota 86 Championship 1:07.148 Nick Cassidy Toyota 86 25 January 2015 Original Circuit: (November 1957–December 1966) Tasman Formula 1:01.800 Jim Clark Lotus 32B 30 January 1965 Sports car racing 1:17.200 Archie Scott-Brown Lister Knobbly 8 February 1958

Notes

References

External links

Official Site NZV8s' Teretonga Park info Teretonga Park in Google Maps