Rush Hour is back with the popular open class endurance race confirming it will be on the event programme for September’s revised Speedworks finale from Hampton Downs.
The One-Hour race open to any vehicle of a driver’s choice provides the perfect platform for showcasing some of New Zealand’s best GT, V8, TCR and homebuilt machinery.
With the Golden Homes North Island Endurance Championship also just around the corner, the Rush Hour event offers teams and drivers the perfect testing arena to identify and solve any teething issues before the main series kicks off later that month.
As usual, the technical requirements are incredibly vague so to allow a myriad of different cars. The rules do stipulate that any car can only have a maximum of a 120kg fuel tank and a limit of two drivers.
However, there is no restriction on driver rankings in terms of co-drivers which means entries can include two fully-fledged professional racers should they choose to do so.
Though the rules won’t deter the interest of any talented amateur drivers with less powerful machinery as the race will feature one compulsory pitstop in a window between 20 and 40 minutes.
The duration of each pitstop differs per car with the time calculated by qualifying time or a nominated performance time meaning the faster one’s car, the longer becomes their pitstop.
Pitstop rules adhere to normal Motorsport New Zealand regulations with no more than four crew members from each time permitted to work on the car in the lane and only one wheel gun allowed in any stop.
Rush Hour was briefly attempted to be revitalised for the start of the 2020 summer series with the opening round of the mini one-hour enduro from Highlands Motorsport Park in January enticing the interest of numerous TCR, GT4 and GT3 cars, including a long-awaited circuit racing return for Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon.
September’s race around Hampton Downs shorter 2.9km national circuit will be held on Saturday evening following on from two separate 20-minute qualifying sessions. With all four classes of GTRNZ also confirming their presence at the round, the Rush Hour grid could well see a full entry list boasting some of New Zealand’s most fearsome cars on offer.
The unrestricted regulations will also offer a viable platform for the testing and development of New Zealand’s all-new TA2 class and the slightly different Thailand TA2 car’s.
Three practice sessions will be held on Friday, September 4 before qualifying and the main race on Saturday.
A full list of entries is expected to be released in the lead up to the event.
Main Image: Matt Smith
