Apex Circuit Design

Hampton Downs track opens in New Zealand

Hampton-Downs-Ribbon-Cut Hampton Downs aerial McLarens @ Hamtpon Downs Hampton Downs in New Zealand recently hosted its first major International meeting. The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing ran over a number of days and celebrated the life and works of Bruce McLaren.

The design and full FIA simulation analysis as a Grade 2 circuit was completed by Apex Founding Director Clive Bowen in 2005 whilst he was part of WSR. Bowen’s design philosophy, was to incorporate the views of drivers, teams and the FIA into a sequence of corners and straights that should provide good racing, spectating and safe use for drivers of all abilities, working from the original design sketches by the circuit’s owners, Tony Roberts and Chris Watson.

Unlike other tracks in New Zealand, this circuit has plenty of rise and fall. Added to this are two long straights and at least four good passing opportunities around the full circuit. The 3.8 km circuit, once completed, will have nine corners, five right-hand and four left-hand.

In the run-up to the official opening of the 2.8km ‘short circuit’ there had been a number of smaller events and track days. While the feedback would be import ant to the track management, it was comments of the drivers who had raced on some of the most iconic circuits in the world that would carry the most weight.

"I have favourite circuits around the world, the likes of Spa, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Dijon and the Pau street circuit," British F5000 driver Greg Thornton told the New Zealand Herald. "To that end I have an order of circuits and I have to say now that Hampton Downs has gone into third position and if Hampton Downs gets the longer leg they're talking about for next year, I would come back. If that happens, I think Hampton Downs will probably be my number one or number two circuit. I thought the circuit was amazing. No other word for it. A brilliant circuit."

Meanwhile New Zealander driver and four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy was equally enthusiastic; "I am blown away with what has been done at Hampton Downs. The facility is without doubt the best in Australasia and is spectacular. The track has its own DNA and will generate great racing. It's hard to believe this is actually in New Zealand."

We congratulate the visionaries, investors and supporters of this project in New Zealand; this is a fine example of a commercially sustainable motorsport development and should be a reference for any major circuit developer as it has been funded entirely commercially and without public investment.

For more information visit: www.hamptondowns.com