Fourteen Formula Atlantics from Australia are confirmed for the Taupo Historic GP on January 10-12, where they will go head-to-head with a 14-strong contingent from New Zealand.
A number of Kiwi and Australian stars are included in the impressive 28-car field, including Greg Murphy, Steven Richards, Damon Leitch, and Kenny Smith.
At the event, dubbed ‘the greatest-ever gathering of Formula Atlantics’, Murphy will pilot a 1993 Ralt RT40, while Richards will get behind the wheel of his recently-acquired Toyota-powered 1993 Reynard 93D.
Leitch will steer the ex-Jacque Laffite Ralt RT4 he claimed the prestigeous Wigram Cup in in 2015.
Smith will drive his 1990 NZ International Grand Prix winning Swift DB4 Formula Atlantic, which hit the track for the first time in over 25 years earlier this year. The 83-year-old, competing in 66th continuous year of motor racing, took a podium in the car at the Formula Open Ice Breaker round at Hampton Downs in September.
Young gun Kaleb Ngatoa is one of the latest additions to the field, driving a NZIGP-winning Swift B84 Formula Atlantic.
Australian cars include Andrew Miedecke’s recently restored March, Malcolm Oastler’s ex-Perkins Ralt, Peter Lucas’ pair of Ralt RT4s and four vehicles from Perth via Fastlane Racing.
Australian-based Kiwi Tim Miles is in an ex-Jos Verstappen 1989 Swift DB4.
Those in attendance will be treated to something special ahead of the feature race, with the grid open to the public at 1.55 pm on the Sunday.
The impressive 28 car grid, at the event dubbed as ‘the greatest-ever gathering of Formula Atlantics’, make up just a part of the star-studded weekend in Taupo.
A 33-car field of Heritage Touring Cars NZ has been confirmed for the event, including a range of familiar Group A cars and Super Tourers.
Andy Greenslade will pilot his ex-Tony Longhurst B&H Ford Sierra RS500; while visiting Aussies, Tony Karanfilovski (ex-Seton PJ Sierra) and Carey McMahon (ex-Lawrie Nelson Mustang) will join in the fun.
Two-time FIA World Touring Car Cup winner Paul Radisich will line up in the Heritage Touring Cars NZ category at the wheel of a Ford Mondeo Super Tourer.
Richard McCarthy has entered his ex-BTCC Park Lane Toyota Carina, the same car Greg Murphy drove in his Bathurst 1000 debut 30 years ago in 1994, and Kayne Scott will drive the Peanut Slab Sierra among a varied field.
The SIXT Rent A Car Taupo Historic GP will also feature a 13-car Formula 5000 grid of thumping V8 open wheelers from the 1970s and a field of 15 Classic Saloons and 23 HVRA Historic Saloons.
Stars including David Brabham, Roberto Moreno, Brendon Hartley and Craig Baird are among those who will also feature at the event. Hartley’s father, Bryan Hartley, is also a competitor in the Formula Atlantic field.
Russell Ingall, the 2005 V8 Supercars Champion, will also be a special star at the event, reunited with his recently restored championship-winning Caltex Stone Brothers Racing Falcon and the Stone brothers themselves, Ross and Jim, who will be on hand.
The Ford marque is being celebrated at the Taupo Historic GP with over 100 of New Zealand’s finest Fords on display in the Ford Car Show & Garage opposite the pit exit adjacent to turn one.
Iconic cars will also be displayed behind the paddock pit garages, including Tony Quinn’s Tyrrell P34 six-wheel Formula 1 Grand Prix car and McLaren Supercars.
Additionally, modern open-wheeler action will be on show at the event via the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, with reigning Repco Supercars Champion Will Brown to be part of the field.
A free Pit Walk will be held on the Saturday from 12.10 pm, providing a chance for fans to take a stroll and meet the legends on hand.
Later that afternoon, there will also be a free event from 5 pm, the ‘Legends Yarn’, with a range of the star legends appearing in the Iconic Car Display Marquee with a cash bar and food trucks on-site.
There will also be a Legends Signing Session outside the Iconic Car Display on the Sunday at 12.30 pm.
Tickets for the Taupo Historic GP are on sale, with free entry for attendees 16 years of age and under.
The event will be live-streamed to the world on the Stuff Speedhub platform.
Header Image: Neville Bailey
