Grand Prix to be Raced at Manfeild

Grand Prix to be Raced at Manfeild

New Zealand’s premier single seater motorsport trophy, the Grand Prix, is to be raced at Manfeild Motorsport Park in the Manawatu in 2008, MotorSport New Zealand president, Steven Kennedy, announced today. It will be the 51st running of the event.

“Four of the country’s six circuits applied to host the event with comprehensive, quality presentations. Following detailed submissions and discussions with the Manfeild Park management, we have agreed a three year contract and the first event will be held next year on 14 January,” he said.

“The Grand Prix will be contested by the Toyota Racing Series as part of their international series and they will be the feature championship class on the programme at that meeting. Other support classes have yet to be confirmed.

“It is anticipated TRS will also contest the Lady Wigram Trophy at Ruapuna, Christchurch the weekend before with the final round of their international series the following weekend at Taupo.”

Manfeild Park Trust chief executive, Phil Abraham, said he was delighted with the decision.

“We plan to make the whole weekend a celebration of motorsport and are determined to make the Grand Prix the pre-eminent event on the calendar.  It will also allow us to showcase the redeveloping Manfeild Park.

“We expect work to start shortly on the new control tower structure to have it and track resealing and remedial work completed in time for the summer. We will also have completed a new 7,000 sq metre stadium available for indoor displays and activities.”

The New Zealand Grand Prix is one of only two Grand Prix events sanctioned by the FIA outside Formula One. It dates back to 1950 when the first event was run at Ohakea Air Base. The second running of the event was 1954 at Ardmore Aerodrome where it ran until 1962.

In 1963 the Grand Prix moved to Pukekohe Circuit where it ran annually for 29 years with the exception of 1974 when it ran at Wigram Airfield in Christchurch. Manfeild circuit last hosted the event between1992-95.  The following two years were at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch, one year at Pukekohe in 2001 and since 2002, it has been raced at Teretonga, Invercargill.

Of the 50 events, 27 winners have been based overseas with the balance New Zealanders.

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