Hampton Downs, Racing Circuit

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is a privately owned permanent racing circuit set in the rolling farmland of North Waikato, New Zealand, roughly midway between Auckland and Hamilton beside State Highway 1 near Meremere and Te Kauwhata. The project was conceived by enthusiasts Tony Roberts and Chris Watson, who acquired former dairy farmland and, after a lengthy resource-consent process, funded much of the build through the sale of trackside apartments. Construction began in February 2007 and, after delays from an unusually wet winter, the park opened in October 2009, with its first major competition meeting held in January 2010. Tony Quinn purchased the facility in 2015 and completed the long-planned club-circuit extension over the following winter, with the full International Circuit debuting in October 2016 alongside a substantial refurbishment. The clockwise layout is known for its smooth surface and a mix of blind bends and crests that play out over a contoured, hilly landscape. Two independent circuits, the National and the Club, can be joined to form the full International Circuit, and the facility holds an FIA Grade 3 licence. It has hosted high-profile events including rounds of the Toyota Racing Series and its successor Formula Regional Oceania Championship, the New Zealand Grand Prix, GT World Challenge Australia and the Hampton Downs 101 endurance race. The park also serves as a busy venue for driver training, club racing, drifting and track days, and is home to a collection celebrating New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren.

Operated by: Quinn family (VINZ Group)