Taupo for 2006 and beyond?

[GTRMagic]

Whispers from parts full of sheep at the weekend seem to have the Taupo circuit in a prime position to take over the NZ V8Supercar round from 2006 and beyond.

For all the chat about the Wellington race (more accurately known as Thorndon) there are logistical issues regarding grandstand seating, around the construction of the circuit (including a large amount of money required for debris fencing, and all the same problems the Aucklanders went on with about loss of trade to some businesses when the whole shebang gets shut down to run a motor race.

As I understand it, Taupo is being pushed as a viable alternative, to take in the V8Supercar round for 2006.

The circuit is said to be able to house a 45,000+ crowd (depends who does the counting of course ) with all spectator cars being able to be parked on the site.

The interesting part of the plan is apparently for ALL 45,000 to be seated in grandstand style seating around the track!! No more queuing on the fence, and chucking a wobbly when you lose your spot when taking a comfort stop, or replenishing the beer and pies supplies!

V8Supercar have a lot of crew, team members, and hangers on that need to be accomodated in their overseas rounds, to which the proponents of the Taupo deal are suggesting they can house 6,600 in motel and hotel accommodation in Taupo itself, and a further 13,000 heads in Rotorua (60 mins away).

It has also been suggested from research conducted in NZ that the majority of the Pukekohe crowd comes from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas - around 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Taupo which is closer to these areas than Pukekohe. So presumably the crowd will be more likely to attend more days, if the travel time is better...

Other noise is around to suggest that the support categories will be accessible to the crowd (unlike Pukekohe) and located in their own dedicated track side paddock area. This sounds like an improvement over Pukekohe, and something that is likely to fall by the wayside if a Wellington proposal got up... I can recall at Indy seeing all manner of Nations Cup cars being prepped in garages of hotels and apartment buildings, in a very haphazard and disorganised-looking operation.....

Of significance too is that the new circuit extensions now make Taupo the only permanent circuit in New Zealand to have the crowd capacity, district infrastructure, resource consent and approval for the required grade of track licence needed to be obtained from the FIA.

The local council seems determined to offer this circuit as a valid alternative to the sentimental street race in Auckland or Wellington.... So this circuit is licenced, its big enough, its in Noo Zilland... whats wrong with running there???

[resisturban]

Except the lap times would be about 30 - 40 seconds....

[retro]

http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12049-4308578,00.html

Taupo Enters V8 Supercar Race

21/04/2005NewstalkZB Taupo has joined the discussions about the future of the New Zealand round of the V8 Supercar Championship.

The Taupo District Council has put a plan to AVESCO to host the race.

They have a track being re-developed on the outskirts of the town, but holding the race would depend on securing funding for upgrades.

Council Advisor Chris Abbott says they will have a large capacity for fans, and with temporary grandstands they could carry up to 64,000 people.

Abbott says the idea has already passed resource consent and the locals are right behind the proposal with only one negative submission in a total of over 200.

He says the location is perfect and the track is already one third completed.

Taupo has some key advantages over Wellington in that the cars will be flown over from Australia in 747s and Wellington airport is too small to handle the aircraft.

[alfasud]

Originally Posted by resisturban

Except the lap times would be about 30 - 40 seconds....

Haha, I think the Porsche GT3's do Taupo in about 38-39 seconds. What is needed for a major international race, is the full extension that has been planned to upgrade.... from this:

http://www.taupocarclub.org.nz/club/?l=clbc0006

To a full FIA standard international circuit.... the curent Taupo Motor Racing Circuit does not currently meet the FIA requirements for Category 3 cars (not sure what level required for the supertaxis).

I think pictures of the proposed cicuit extension have already been posted here before... needless to say, they have a lot of work ahead of them to complete the job. Almost as much work as for the new track proposed for Hampton Downs.

[Chappelli]

And as we speak no doubt they're busy creating a buzz that Taupo is a viable option... How about for once in NZ we try not to burn potential new investers coming in to the sport. Taupo from what I understand would be very very lucky to keep NZ V8's next year if the drivers had anything to do with it, let alone holding the V8 circus.

Once again, we'll no doubt see plenty of new investers into motorsport get burnt by the classic give us money to leverage our dream that may or may not happen.

I also like the Taupo's advantage over Wellington being that the cars can be flown in unlike in Wellington.. aside from being incredibly confusing (is Wellington Airport not a hell of a lot larger than Taupo.).. How many flights would it take to fly the 30 or so cars and however many trailers required????

[thejester]

Let's be honest, the only appeal that Pukekohe has to Australian teams and organisers is that it's VERY fast. Wellington is a viable alternative because it's a street circuit and they make good TV. Without puke or a street circuit, I don't know if the revenue of a race in NZ would be worth the effort and expense to come here.

[retro]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,...a13275,00.html

One more year for Pukekohe
22 April 2005

By BERNARD CARPINTER
So, it looks as though the V8 Supercars are going back to Pukekohe next year after all. A lot of people would be happy about that, including the drivers and the 38,600 fans – a record – who turned up at the circuit last Sunday.


Unhappy would be Avesco boss Tony Cochrane – already seething about the collapse of the Auckland street race – and fans from the lower half of the North Island.

Well, maybe in 2007 the V8s will finally make it to a Wellington street circuit, and the suggested new circuit looks more open and faster than the inner-city one that didn't work after all.

Top drivers like fast tracks and the leading V8 drivers at Pukekohe all agreed that they enjoyed the track, especially after the resurfacing that removed some of the notorious bumps. The circuit is now thought to be the fastest in Australasia.

In particular, the "mountain" corner that leads on to the front straight is now very fast indeed – Craig Baird's WPS team said he was doing about 225km/h when he hit the wall there after tangling with Paul Dumbrell, and from the damage to his car that is easy to believe.

Stewards charged Dumbrell with reckless driving in relation to the crash.

"It's a great track, I really enjoy it," Greg Murphy said, hardly surprisingly given that he has now won four of the five championship meetings held there.

AdvertisementAdvertisement"If nothing else is organised for next year, I don't see why we shouldn't come back here."

Paul Radisich said the smoother track was now back to where it was in the old days.

"It takes a lot of balls coming over the mountain," he said.

Champion Marcos Ambrose said Pukekohe was now "fantastic" and the drivers agreed that they could put up with some privations – facilities at the track are still fairly primitive – so that they could have fun racing on the track again.

The crowd certainly seemed to be having fun.

The loud cheering when their favourites – especially Murphy, of course – made a pass was quite unlike what you hear at most New Zealand race meetings.

The meeting was well organised, and traffic flowed as well as could be expected.

There is no reason why the V8s cannot go back to Pukekohe next year, but after that things get more complicated.

The horse racing club that owns the property and the race licence plans to build stables on the land that is currently used as the paddock for the support classes at the V8 Supercars meetings, and it will take some ingenuity to find somewhere else to put all those cars and tents.

Anyway, Avesco is dead set on running a street race in New Zealand, so if Wellington is available in 2007, that's where it will all happen.

You might be wondering, what happened to Manfeild? After all, the Feilding circuit and Auckland were the only two original bidders for the event, and Avesco said it was a contender.

Well, Manfeild wasn't really in contention. It's a matter of geography, especially economic geography – Avesco knows that promoters wouldn't be able to sell nearly as much corporate hospitality in Feilding as they could in Auckland, Pukekohe or Wellington.

A pity, because the circuit would have got a $12 million upgrade if it had gained the Supercars, and would have become a first-class permanent facility.

[tanalised]

unless the current Taupo track got an extension, it would be utter carnage for the supercars on it.

[promax]

cochrane has already said that it's wellington street race or nothing!

of course he later changed his mind and said returning to puke for 06 is another option

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Whispers from parts full of sheep at the weekend seem to have the Taupo circuit in a prime position to take over the NZ V8Supercar round from 2006 and beyond.

For all the chat about the Wellington race (more accurately known as Thorndon) there are logistical issues regarding grandstand seating, around the construction of the circuit (including a large amount of money required for debris fencing, and all the same problems the Aucklanders went on with about loss of trade to some businesses when the whole shebang gets shut down to run a motor race.

As I understand it, Taupo is being pushed as a viable alternative, to take in the V8Supercar round for 2006.

The circuit is said to be able to house a 45,000+ crowd (depends who does the counting of course ) with all spectator cars being able to be parked on the site.

The interesting part of the plan is apparently for ALL 45,000 to be seated in grandstand style seating around the track!! No more queuing on the fence, and chucking a wobbly when you lose your spot when taking a comfort stop, or replenishing the beer and pies supplies!

V8Supercar have a lot of crew, team members, and hangers on that need to be accomodated in their overseas rounds, to which the proponents of the Taupo deal are suggesting they can house 6,600 in motel and hotel accommodation in Taupo itself, and a further 13,000 heads in Rotorua (60 mins away).

It has also been suggested from research conducted in NZ that the majority of the Pukekohe crowd comes from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas - around 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Taupo which is closer to these areas than Pukekohe. So presumably the crowd will be more likely to attend more days, if the travel time is better...

Other noise is around to suggest that the support categories will be accessible to the crowd (unlike Pukekohe) and located in their own dedicated track side paddock area. This sounds like an improvement over Pukekohe, and something that is likely to fall by the wayside if a Wellington proposal got up... I can recall at Indy seeing all manner of Nations Cup cars being prepped in garages of hotels and apartment buildings, in a very haphazard and disorganised-looking operation.....

Of significance too is that the new circuit extensions now make Taupo the only permanent circuit in New Zealand to have the crowd capacity, district infrastructure, resource consent and approval for the required grade of track licence needed to be obtained from the FIA.

The local council seems determined to offer this circuit as a valid alternative to the sentimental street race in Auckland or Wellington.... So this circuit is licenced, its big enough, its in Noo Zilland... whats wrong with running there???

I could be wrong, but Taupo didnt get it's track extension done last year and the funding was meant to be in place. Will it happen this year? It would be slightly foolish to bid for a Supercar round before that was completed, and surely AVESCO would allow that to happen anyway. 1.4 kms isn't exactly a long lap.

Taupo also has a premium on accommodation most weekends so just where their available bed night figures come from raises a few questions. Rotorua would also be slightly questionable too.

It's all well and good to pitch for such a spectacular event and I don't want to be a wet blanket, but it would be hard to see it happening at Taupo.

As for the claim that the support pits at Pukekohe are not accessible, that is a bit rich. You don't need a paddock pass to visit them like you do to go into the Supercar paddock as they aren't on the infield. How could they be more accessible?

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by retro

http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12049-4308578,00.html

Taupo Enters V8 Supercar Race

21/04/2005NewstalkZB Taupo has joined the discussions about the future of the New Zealand round of the V8 Supercar Championship.

The Taupo District Council has put a plan to AVESCO to host the race.

They have a track being re-developed on the outskirts of the town, but holding the race would depend on securing funding for upgrades.

Council Advisor Chris Abbott says they will have a large capacity for fans, and with temporary grandstands they could carry up to 64,000 people.

Abbott says the idea has already passed resource consent and the locals are right behind the proposal with only one negative submission in a total of over 200.

He says the location is perfect and the track is already one third completed.

Taupo has some key advantages over Wellington in that the cars will be flown over from Australia in 747s and Wellington airport is too small to handle the aircraft.

Which third of the track is already complete? The 1.4 kms that always has?

Interesting that the council advisor is a guy who "is no longer having any active involvement in motorsport", yet pops up at historic meetings, fundraising on the Taupo track extensions, and now advising Taupo District Council on pitching for a Supercar round.

With 64,000 people having grandstand seating, there will be a lot of people travelling for a greater length of time to get to the Taupo event than they currently do to get to Pukekohe.

I thought Ross Palmer and Peter Brock were somehow connected to the expansion plans for Taupo. What happened there, apart from Procar ceasing operations??

[fordo]

There was an article in the Taupo rag (paper) at one stage about Cochrane being there and advising them what they needed to do to get a round but admittedly that was back when the original extension plans were announced. What happened to the proposed extensions? Did they go the same way as the extensions to Pukekohe that were around at one stage - down the gurgler? Damn horses.

[Slippy Diff]

What nobody seems to have mentioned is, the complete lack of facilities at Taupo!! Together with the inadequate circuit, it makes it completely unviable, unless a large amount of money is invested, probably millions. I really cannot imagine 45,000 spectators at Taupo.

[Just Do It!]

I hate to be a pessimist, but it would be a struggle to envisage that level of investment in Taupo Raceway. You are right - a track extension is one thing, facilities are another!!

[flyingduck]

From what I have heard around the traps it is 99% signed for Puke next year

[911]

JDI, I'm with you on this one.
A V8 Supercar race at Torpo just ain't ever going to happen. (Who dreams up this s**t)
It's actually quite embarrasing as a NZer to think we have no real facilities here in the land of sheep shaggers to hold a V8 Supercar race.
Manfeild =
Taupo =
Wellington =
It has to close to Auckland for a whole lot of reasons, (corporate dollar, logistics, population, etc.)
I guess if TC has already said it's going to be a street race or nothing, we'll have to wait and see.

[Warwick]

Originally Posted by 911

It's actually quite embarrasing as a NZer to think we have no real facilities here in the land of sheep shaggers to hold a V8 Supercar race.
Manfeild =
Taupo =
Wellington =
It has to close to Auckland for a whole lot of reasons, (corporate dollar, logistics, population, etc.)

No real facilities?
Well Ruapuna leaves the rest of the country for dead as far as that goes
but it's not in the North Island so I guess it doesn't really count

Has to be close to Orcland? don't see why apart from population base which means $$$$$$ through the gate Auckland has nothing over Christchurch and I'd be willing to bet people would travel that far to see it,nothing is that far away in NZ

Manfield with the right amount of cubic $$$$$ injected into resealing the track and a decent upgrade to the pit area would be a far superior track to Pukekohe but then every track in NZ with the exception of Taupo is anyway
Although accomodation might be a problem

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by 911

JDI, I'm with you on this one.
A V8 Supercar race at Torpo just ain't ever going to happen. (Who dreams up this s**t)
It's actually quite embarrasing as a NZer to think we have no real facilities here in the land of sheep shaggers to hold a V8 Supercar race.
Manfeild =
Taupo =
Wellington =
It has to close to Auckland for a whole lot of reasons, (corporate dollar, logistics, population, etc.)
I guess if TC has already said it's going to be a street race or nothing, we'll have to wait and see.

Wow......this is a major news story.....I have agreeance from 911.

I think the issue is not a population issue whatsoever. What everyone seems to forget for some reason is the spectacle. People flock to see the spectacle, the glitz, the glamour, the showmanship, the association, the experience..... I could go on but won't. The point is pretty clear.

Tony Cochrane knows that overseas events need to be a spectacle, a showcase for the host country if you like. Despite what you want to believe, there are hundreds of millions of viewers - all potential tourists - watching V8 Supercar coverage - either live, delayed, or has a highlights package.
Now, I hate to be a wet blanket, but you will struggle to make a country more appealing to a tourist or highlight a country better by showing a race at a permanent circuit rather than in a major city. So TC has not only his series best interest at heart, but also that of the host country - in this case, lil ole NZ. Clever thinking if you stop and ponder for a moment......!

Manfeild needs mega-bucks spent on it, as does Taupo, and Pukekohe isn't going to be an easy task past 2006. Hampton Downs should be ready in 2006, but maybe not until 2007 if everything gets delayed for whatever reason - resource consent, weather, etc.
Ruapuna is, sadly, a wee way for quite a percentage of the population to travel. Corporate support risks being limited too.

AVESCO have intimated that NZ could get two rounds - possibly six months apart - with one being on a circuit and one being a street race. Ideally Wellington gets the street race and Auckland gets the circuit event at the all-new Hampton Downs. This is quite simply the best-fit solution for everyone - AVESCO get their street race, motorsport in NZ gets two big events roughly six months apart to help boost awareness and one of them gets people to a permanent circuit, and corporates get two events which for most of them will see one event fall into each half-yearly budget period.
It's absolutely perfect and for once, we really need to put self-interest aside and look at the big picture stuff. As much as people will whinge and moan because they are tall poppies, or it doesn't suit them, or the its the wrong flavour, shape , or colour, it's really irrelevant.

This scenario will see a long-term gain for motorsport in NZ as a whole. And at a time when the "independent and non-V8 Supercar-modelled" NZ V8 Touring Car category is at a point where teams are consuming upto $500,000 to run two cars for seven events, having two huge profile events in one calendar year will only help them bring in more sponsorship, or at least pitch a helluva strong argument.


Right now, more than perhaps ever before, New Zealand motorsport needs to welcome our Australian cousins to our country and ensure that they stay because as much as some will hate to admit it, to ensure the long-term viability of New Zealand's premiere motorsport category - the NZ V8 Touring Cars - we need to piggyback on the Supercar support and awareness level.

Amen!

[911]

Warwick, Ruapuna is our best racing facility but unfortunatly they don't happen to have seriously put their hand up for it.
It's in the wrong place as well regretably.

JDI, WHAT a post!!!

[promax]

why kiss tony c's butt unless of course you beleive his bull that v8 supercars are watched by 120 gawdzillion people he'll backdown.. just like he did when he said a wellington street race or nothing

[911]

promax, where would you like to see the race held?
Just curious.

[peckstar]

promax, why would he back down

there are a number of tracks in australia wanting v8 races they get crowds as big as the NZ race and the team dont have to go without their cars for a month. if they race in australia..

[promax]

puke, ruapuna, manfeild, etc... take your pick.

he's already backed down peckstar

[tanalised]

I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that V8 car sales from Falcon & Commodore are higher in NZ per capita than Aussie; and it is well recognised there is very strong support over here for the racing category

[peckstar]

so then in a nation of is it 4 million why do they only get 30k ish to their only race

and promax he hasnt backed down he wants a race in NZ, there is no doubt and like any good businessman he is open to options
but he dosnt need NZ, oh its nice but v8s will continue if we go there or not.

you listed 3 tracks and we are not going to any of them after next year, so im not sure how you think that is a back down