Highlands Motorsport Park
 | This article needs more citations. (May 2013) |
.png) Full Circuit (2013–present) | |
| Location | Cromwell, Otago |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°03′26″S 169°09′52″E / 45.05722°S 169.16444°E |
| FIA Grade | 3 |
| Owner | Tony Quinn |
| Broke ground | April 2012 |
| Opened | 30 March 2013 |
| Major events | Current: FR Oceania (2014, 2019–2020, 2023–present) New Zealand Grand Prix (2024–present) GR86 Championship New Zealand (2013, 2019–2020, 2022, 2024–present) Former: Australian GT Highlands 101 (2013–2016) Aussie Racing Cars (2015, 2023) TCR New Zealand (2021) Racer Products V8s (2019) V8SuperTourer (2014) |
| Website | http://www.highlands.co.nz |
| Full Circuit (2013–present) | |
| Length | 4.100 km (2.548 mi) |
| Turns | 22 |
| Race lap record | 1:28.830 ( Liam Sceats, Tatuus FT-60, 2024, F-Regional) |
| 'A' Course (2013–present) | |
| Length | 1.133 km (0.704 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| 'B' Course (2013–present) | |
| Length | 1.090 km (0.677 mi) |
| Turns | 2 |
| 'C' Course (2013–present) | |
| Length | 1.496 km (0.930 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
The Highlands Motorsport Park is a motor racing circuit in Cromwell, Otago, New Zealand. Opened on 30 March 2013,[1] the facility features a 4.100 km (2.548 mi) circuit.
Circuit
[edit]The circuit offers on and off track driving, an outdoor go-kart track, a sculpture park and mini golf. It is also the home of the New Zealand National Motorsport Museum, and displays machinery including ex-Formula One cars.
In early 2016, Highlands acquired the only Aston Martin Vulcan in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of only 24 worldwide, for $4.2 million.[2] It is currently on display at the National Motorsport Museum at the park. In 2016 the park introduced the Highlands Festival of Speed, held annually in mid-January.[3]
The entire Highlands complex is next door to the Central Motor Speedway, a ¼ mile (446 m (488 yd)) dirt track, egg shaped oval speedway that opened in December 1980.[4]
Layout configurations
[edit]
(Full Course)
('A' Course)
('B' Course)
('C' Course)
('D' Course)
('E' Course)
.png)
.png)
.png)
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Highlands 101
[edit]The Highlands 101 was an endurance race held annually at the Highlands Motorsport Park from 2013 to 2016, in conjunction with the final round of the Australian GT Championship.[5]
Past winners
[edit]| Year | Drivers | Entrant | Car | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 |  Tony Quinn Fabian Coulthard |
VIP Holdings | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | Report |
| 2014 | Tony Quinn Garth Tander |
VIP Holdings | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | Report |
| 2015 | Klark Quinn Shane van Gisbergen |
VIP Holdings | McLaren 650S GT3 | Report |
| 2016 | Craig Baird Michael Almond |
Scott Taylor Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Report |
Lap records
[edit]The unofficial all-time track record is 1:23.753, set by Liam Lawson, driving a Rodin FZED, on 16 January 2022.[6][7] As of February 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Highlands Motorsport Park are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit: 4.100 km (2.548 mi) (2013–present) | ||||
| Formula Regional | 1:28.830[8] | Liam Sceats | Tatuus FT-60 | 17 February 2024 |
| Toyota Racing Series | 1:28.910[9] | Liam Lawson | Tatuus FT-50 | 12 January 2019 |
| GT3 | 1:31.365[10] | Craig Baird[11] | Mercedes-AMG GT3 | 12 November 2016 |
| TA2 | 1:39.919[12] | Nathan Herne | Dodge Challenger[13] | 18 February 2024 |
| Toyota GR86 Championship | 1:50.836[14] | Arthur Broughan | Toyota GR86 | 1 February 2026 |
| 'E' Course: 2.910 km (1.808 mi) (2013–present)[15] | ||||
| TCR Touring Car | 1:12.483[15][16] | Chris van der Drift | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | 23 April 2021 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ van Kempen, Lynda (30 March 2013). "'World-class' motorsport park opens in Cromwell". odt.co.nz. Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ "Tony Quinn unveils $4.2 million Aston Martin Vulcan supercar in Cromwell". Stuff. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ Pattison, Catherine (2 February 2016). "Motorsport: Perkins, Falcon to fore in Central Muscle Cars races". odt.co.nz. Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Story of Central Motor Speedway". Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ "Australian GT: Highlands Motorsports Park, Race Report". www.dailysportscar.com. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ "Motorsport NZ Premier Championship - Rodin laps - Demonstration Lap times (15 Jan)". 16 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ↑ "Motorsport NZ Premier Championship - Rodin laps - Demonstration Lap times (16 Jan)". Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ↑ Waring, Bethonie (17 February 2024). "Sceats stays in FRegional Oceania title fight with Highlands race one win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ↑ "Speedworks Rd 2 - Toyota Racing Series Race 4 - 15 Laps Grid Start - 12/01/2019" (PDF). 12 January 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ↑ "Australian GT Highlands 2016". 12 November 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ↑ "2016 Australian GT Championship - Driver Database". Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ↑ "2023–24 Super Sprint NZ Championship - Round 6 - TA2 - Trans-Tasman - Race 2 - Results". 18 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ↑ "Herne last to first win to claim first TA2 Trans Tasman Title". 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ↑ "2026 NAPA 70th New Zealand Grand Prix - Bridgestone GR86 Championship - Race 2 Bridgestone GR86 - Official Result". 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- 1 2 "2021 TCR Super Production Championship >> TCR Super Production - TCR Super Production - Race 2". 23 April 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ↑ "TCR NZ 2021 » Highlands Motorsport Park Round 2 Results". 23 April 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- "Highlands GT Club". Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
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