This coming weekend will see the 2023 Historic Grand Prix (GP) at Taupo International Motorsport Park become host to eight different race categories.
Over the course of two days, 26 races will be held on the Waikato circuit with the star of the show being Jaguar which will be celebrated with a brand specific handicap race for all competing vehicles of the make.
Also making up the weekend’s on-track entertainment is the Formula Open category which will see circuit owner Tony Quinn go up against three-time NZGP winner Kenny Smith.
Other categories that will be present include the Historic Formula Ford/Formula Junior & Invited Historic single-seaters, Historic Muscle & Saloon Cars, Historic Sports Sedans & Invited Allcomers, Super V8’s featuring TA2 and Tranzams, Heritage Touring Cars, Formula Open NZ and Hooters Vintage Race Series Pre-1966 Saloons & Sports cars.
This weekend also sees the first round of the new Super V8 Series which consists of three categories including the Tranzam Challenge Series and first running of the NZ TA2 Muscle Car Series.
There’s a great line up in the V8 Open Series too which caters for any naturally aspirated V8 saloon car, with such variety from the highly modified Corvettes of Grant Brennan and Kerry Jones along with the highly modified V8 SuperTourers of Tim Edgell and Brady Wild.
Adding to the mix will be long time competitors Nick Ross in the TLX Nissan and Rob Wallace in the ex-Greg Murphy V8 SuperTourer. Some of the older TL cars of Nathan Harris and Alan Mason will also get in amongst it.
As for the new TA2 Muscle Car Seres, four cars will appear for their first ever competitive round in New Zealand, with three expected to arrive in the country for later rounds.
Battling it out for line honours in the TA2 Muscle Car Series this weekend will be Andrew Turner in Mustang along with Andrew Sinclair in the very first Dodge Challenger in the Country, mixing it up will be the new Camaro’s of Steve Ross, John Roberts and Peter Ward.
Although the numbers are a bit light in the Tranzam Challenge Series there will still be some strong competition with Rob Berggren in the super quick Dodge Viper and Grant Hannah in the Corvette.
The other two cars to watch out for is the beautifully prepared V8 SuperTourer of Eric Hennephof and the American BMW M6 of Warwick Mortimer.
Taupo International Motorsport Park CEO Josie Spillane is delighted with the stunning line up of race classes and the huge contingent of Jaguar cars that will be participating on the track and on display in the Legends Garage.
“We are also proud to continue the work of our predecessors who have made the Historic Grand Prix New Zealand’s leading classic race meeting,” she says.
“We have made a commitment to the future & growth of this fantastic event and will be celebrating many more great manufacturers and their history in future years, as well as welcoming the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.”
The 2023 Historic GP will commence at 9am on Saturday 21 and run through until Sunday 22 2023.
Main image: Supplied
