It will be a busy day on Saturday for the Production Race Series as they field a full, mixed 41-car grid at Pukekohe Park Raceway.
In the one day event, hosted by Auckland Car Club, which also features the North Island Formula Ford, the Production Race Series will begin with qualifying at 10am. The 8-lap scratch race will follow at 11.22am, before a 6-lap handicap race at 2pm. The longer 12-lap handicap race will see out their day at 4.18pm.
Entry to the event is free at Pukekohe.
In a series targeted towards motorsport enthusiasts with limited track experience, the field will be made up of a number of manufacturers, “everything from three-cylinder Daihatsu Charades right through to V8s and turbo V8’s and things like that,” says series founder Martyn Wells speaking to Velocity News.
“We’ve had everything from a rotary powered Subaru Impreza run with with us. We’ve got a Lotus Elise with a K24 in the back of it. There’s also been Alfa Romeos, Porsches, Mercedes, Evos, Volvos and everything in between.”
In just seven years, Wells has built the series into one well-respected among New Zealand motorsport enthusiasts. The first round of 2022 at Hampton Downs featured 60 cars, forcing them to split the field into two races.
At Pukekohe, however, they’ve had to limit it to 42 as there is no space for any more on the grid.
Whilst racing remains competitive with a serious element to it, the Production Race Series also has a strong emphasis on creating a friendly, fun and affordable event.
“We try keep ourselves serious, but we try and keep it fun,” says Wells.
“We have Barbecues and driver of the day prizes, we’ve done cash prizes before, just a lot of fun, a lot of open races and people just enjoying themselves, really.”
The driver of the day in Round 1 of the series was 16-year-old Daniel Carter for the potential he showed throughout the event.
There is no entry requirements on the cars competing as long as they meet the safety standards laid out by Motorsport New Zealand and the driver holds a current competition license.
There is also a set breakout time to regulate fairness for competitors, all cars required to not exceed a lap time of 1min 13sec at Hampton Downs and the old Pukekohe circuit otherwise a penalty will be incurred.
Keeping the term “production” for historical purposes, modifications of any sort are permitted, tyres the only element required to remain the same.
“The only thing that has to be production on the car is the tyres,” says Wells.
“The reason for that is to keep the costs down so people can drive to the track and then drive their car home. They don’t need a segregated trailer.”
With 2022 entry fees at only $300 per round, if you’ve got a fitted out car at home, what’s stopping you?
Banner Image: Production Race Series– New Zealand
