The first-ever 6-Hour Enduro for Highlands Motorsport Park has been confirmed for the first weekend of November next year as a part of a massive 10th-anniversary celebration.
Whilst more details of the event will be confirmed in the coming weeks; the event is shaping up to be huge, highlighted by the 6-hour GT race. The regulations for the race require 3 drivers: One Pro and two Am.
One of the first competitors to enter the 6-hour event is Racer Products with their new Mercedes-inspired Marc GT, to be driven by Pro driver Gene Rollinson and AM drivers Dylan Petch and Jordan Michels.
The Racer Products entry should indeed be formidable, with Rollinson having experienced success in New Zealand and abroad, leading the charge, whilst Petch has produced a strong performance in the opening two rounds of the South Island Formula Ford 1600 series this year.
Michels, the 2018 NZ Formula Ford champion, is also very familiar with the New Zealand GT scene, having driven his Marc Ford Focus V8 in the South Island Endurance Series this year. He also has some recent Super3 experience under his belt mid-season.
The enduro will feature a Le Man’s start, which is sure to thrill spectators and drivers alike.
The first support category of the event will also showcase some tight, fast racing from the “pocket-rocket” Aussie Racing Cars, which are sure to impress a bumper crowd.
There’ll also be a very significant prize pool for competitors and fans alike, including one lucky ticket-holding spectator who’ll get to go home in a Lamborghini Huracan.
The car is currently being driven as a part of the “Hot Laps” experience at Hampton Downs. All fans need to do is simply pre-purchase their tickets for the event to be in the draw.
“I’ve tasked the team to come up with something out of the box for this event, and to show I mean business, I’ve put the Hampton’s Lamborghini in the prize pool,” circuit owner Tony Quinn said to Stuff last year.
“I’m determined that the prize pool will be the biggest New Zealand has seen – for competitors and for the public, as well as ensuring there is plenty of action on and off the track – I can’t wait!”
It’s only fitting an enduro will feature at the celebration, the Highlands 101 establishing itself early in the history of the circuits as a 101-lap race of the 4.1km circuit.
That race was run four times from 2013 until 2016, with Tony Quinn himself winning the first event with Fabian Coulthard and then again a year later with Garth Tander. However, it’s unlikely that Quinn will suit up for this event, having announced his retirement some weeks ago after a serious crash at Townsville in his Porsche 992 Gt3 car, which he is still recovering from 4 months later.
His son Klark also won the 101 in 2015 in partnership with Shane van Gisbergen.
The last time it was raced, in 2016, it was New Zealand racing veteran Craig Baird and Michael Almond who emerged victorious.
With such an impressive selection of drivers having competed there in past, the Highlands Park 6 Hour is sure to draw in some top local and international talent.
More information on the event will follow, however, it’s already shaping up to be a not to be missed event..
