Euromarque Motorsport Park Explained

Euromarque Motorsport Park, Ruapuna
Location:Christchurch, New Zealand
Coordinates:-43.5306°N 172.4797°W
Former Names:Mike Pero Motorsport Park (2013–2023)
Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park (2004–2013)
Ruapana Park (1963–2003)
Fiagrade:3
Owner:Canterbury Car Club Inc
Events:Current:
FR Oceania (2005–2006, 2008, 2015–2018, 2024)
Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Championship (2015–2018, 2022, 2024)
Former:
Lady Wigram Trophy (2003–2004, 2006–2012, 2015–2018)
New Zealand Grand Prix (1998–1999)
New Zealand V8s (2002, 2004–2011, 2015–2018)
V8SuperTourer (2012)
Layout1:Full Circuit (1993–present)
Length Km:3.330
Length Mi:2.069
Turns:11
Record Time:1.15.810
Record Driver: Scott Dixon
Record Car:Reynard 92D
Record Year:1998
Record Class:F3000
Layout2:Original Circuit (1963–1992)
Length Km2:1.609
Length Mi2:1.000
Turns2:4

Euromarque Motorsport Park[1] (often referred to as Ruapuna) is a permanent motor racing circuit owned and operated by the Canterbury Car Club Inc on land leased from the Christchurch City Council. It is located at 107 Hasketts Road in Templeton, 13km (08miles) west of Christchurch, New Zealand. It was opened as Ruapana Park in 1963, and between 2004 and 2013 was known as Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park. Mike Pero joined the circuit as title sponsor from 2013–2023, as Mike Pero Motorsport Park. In the early parts of February 2023, the sponsorship deal was over, and Euromarque became the new title sponsor.[2]

The track also features a drag strip, pit garages, racing school, speedway circuit and even a radio controlled car circuit. There are a number of configurations of the circuit with licences from FIA Grade 3 to National grades 1, 2 and 3.

History

The track was opened in November 1963. The circuit was a fairly simple sealed surface road course, at just a mile in length and comprising essentially a flat tri-oval with an extended main straight down to a hairpin bend. In 1976 the main straight was widened and a staging area added to allow drag racing to take place. The biggest change in the circuit's history came in 1993 when it was extended to, along with other renovations.[3]

The circuit

The track surface is hot mix bitumen and runs for 3.33km (02.07miles) in a counter-clockwise direction with many fast sweeping corners. It rewards smooth and tidy drivers.[4]

It supports six layouts, from the "A Track" to the "Grand Prix with dipper".[5]

The track features on the motorsport racing simulation game Project CARS 2 as Ruapana Park.

Layout History & Track Configurations

Events

The circuit hosts both 2 and 4 wheeled events. The "Skope Classic" is a major annual event held at the track. The two-day-event includes practice and racing on Saturday and racing in classes on Sunday for classic and historic cars. It is one of the events of Southern Festival of Speed.

The track hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999. New Zealand born driver Simon Wills won both races in his Reynard 94D.

Naming rights

Since 2013, Mike Pero, founder of Mike Pero Mortgages and Real Estate, has had a naming rights sponsorship deal to Ruapuna, which was known as Mike Pero Motorsport Park. This deal ended in 2023, with Euromarque replacing.

For 10 years before, the naming rights had been held by Powerbuilt Tools.[6]

Lap Records

The official lap record for the Euromarque Motorsport Park is 1:15.810, set by Scott Dixon on 5 December 1998. While the unofficial all-time track record is 1:11.265, set by Liam Lawson in a Rodin FZED on 21 January 2022.[7] As of February 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Euromarque Motorsport Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Full Circuit: 3.330 km (1993–present)
1:15.810 5 December 1998
1:17.062[8] 16 January 2016
1:17.493[9] 11 February 2024
1:17.588 2 February 2014
1:18.099 25 January 2004
1:18.742 8 September 2023
1:20.143 3 November 2013
1:22.204 9 September 2023
1:24.478 25 November 2012
1:26.390[10] Dodge Challenger[11] 11 February 2024
1:26.813 17 January 2015
1:30.122 28 November 2010
1:35.846[12] 18 January 2015

Ruapuna Speedway

Adjacent to the main circuit (on the south side) is the Ruapuna Speedway. The track has hosted important motorcycle speedway events, including multiple qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship starting in 1976[13] [14] and the New Zealand Solo Championship on 17 occasions from 1965 to 2007.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Pero Motorsport Park. Canterbury Car Club Inc. 16 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111029072530/http://www.canterburycarclub.co.nz/extras/power_built.php. 29 October 2011. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: About Us . Euromarque Motorsport Park . 13 February 2023.
  3. Web site: Ruapuna Park . Racingcircuits.info . 13 February 2023.
  4. News: On track for competitive driving . toyotaracing.co.nz . n.d. . 10 November 2009 .
  5. Web site: Maps . Euromarque Motorsport Park . 22 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Mike Pero back in motorsport . 31 October 2013 . 8 January 2014 .
  7. Web site: Ruapuna Park Lap Records . Euromarque Motorsport Park . 17 August 2022.
  8. Web site: 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy Race Weekend R5 - Toyota Racing Series - Race 1 . 16 January 2016 . 11 December 2022.
  9. News: Michael Shin dominates for first FRegional Oceania win . Formula Scout . 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  10. Web site: 2023–24 Super Sprint NZ Championship - Round 5 - TA2 - Race 3 - Results . 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Herne’s TA2 hat trick delivers Australia Trans-Tasman Series Lead . 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  12. Web site: 2015 Summer Fuel Festival R13 - Toyota Finance 86 - Race 2 (8 Laps) . 18 January 2015 . 11 December 2022.
  13. Web site: World Championship . Metal Speedway . 2 February 2024.
  14. Web site: World Championship . Speedway.org . 2 February 2024.
  15. Web site: HISTORYCZNE ZESTAWIENIE WYNIKÓW 1929-2023 . Speedway History . 2 February 2024.