Fans making the trip to Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend are going to be the real winners in an action-packed and star-studded 10th-anniversary thriller. And for one – it’s going to be a weekend they’ll never forget.
Action on track will be headlined with the toughest-ever race in New Zealand for modern generation GT machinery. Twenty one cars featuring many big names from Australasian racing will battle it out for six hours around the gruelling and spectacular Cromwell circuit on Sunday afternoon.
Heading a cast that includes champions from Australia and champions from New Zealand is Kiwi icon Shane van Gisbergen. He’ll be one of the ones to beat with co-driver Dwayne Carter in the unique Brabham BT61 but will also be competing in a fun lunchtime event and as a guest in the Aussie Race Cars finale.
A firm fan favourite, this weekend will be one of the last in NZ for some time where fans will get to enjoy seeing ‘The Giz’ put his sensational high-speed skills to work before he heads Stateside for a new chapter in his career racing in NASCAR.
As well as his racing commitments, van Gisbergen will also team up with young gun Ryan Wood to take on circuit owner Tony Quinn and four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy in a lunchtime Toyota 86 slalom event over the weekend.
Shane is just one of a number of big names in action at Highlands over the weekend. Multiple endurance racing champion Jonny Reid, rising Supercars star Wood, former Supercars racer Luke Youlden, international Lamborghini racer Brendon Leitch and circuit owner Tony Quinn are all set to race.
The list of cars is also an impressive one, featuring names like Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, McLaren and Ginetta – a quality field that will hit the throttle of any car or motorsport enthusiast. Add in a grid walk before the big race, the circuit’s unique Le Mans style start and a world class commentary team of Garth Tander, Chad Neylon and Stephen McIvor and it’s petrolhead heaven.
And for one petrolhead, it’s going to be a day never to forget. Anyone buying a Weekend Pass in advance who attends on the day is in with a genuine shot of being handed the keys and driving home behind the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan which sister circuit Hampton Downs has used for hot lap rides and driver training for the past few years.
Back on track and the action isn’t limited to just the big GTs in the endurance race; the support card for this weekend is also world-class.
NAPA Central Muscle Cars – arguably the best category in the world for historic and iconic muscle cars – is on the bill along with only the second-ever appearance by the spectacular Aussie Racing Cars and a mini One Hour endurance race to set the scene for Sunday’s main event.
Words & Images: Supplied
NAPA CMC – arguably the best category in the world for historic and iconic muscle cars. Who dreamt that chestnut up? I would argue it is most definitely not!