Taupo International Motorsport Park

History

On 21 January 2007 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the sixth race in the 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix season and on 20 January 2008 it hosted the fifth race in the 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix season. In order to create more overtaking opportunities, a tighter chicane was introduced at the end of the straight. On 25 January 2009 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the fourth race in the 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. Owing to the tight 'S' bend close to the start causing collisions in the past, the rolling start was replaced by a standing start for the 2009 event's Sprint race.

The Taupo Race Track project has received a Silver Award by the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand, praising the high-quality delivery of the project, which was designed and constructed in tandem to achieve very tight deadlines. However, on 8 May 2008 Newstalk ZB reported that the motorsport park was NZ$3 million in debt and the owners were seeking equity to help keep their business afloat.

The circuit was renamed Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on 26 November 2015, as a tribute to former Formula One driver and team owner Bruce McLaren. The renaming occurred as Taupo directors announced they would be rebuilding the circuit to maintain its FIA Grade 2 status. However, the circuit is renamed Taupo International Motorsport Park, after Tony Quinn purchased the circuit in November 2021.

In January 2026, the circuit will host Giltrap Group Taupo Historic Grand Prix, with the main drawcard being Johnny Reid and the Black Beauty A1GP car.

The circuit

The track includes four alternative configurations (consisting of 3.400 km, 3.321 km, 2.200 km and 1.300 km), two separate pit areas, a three-story pit lane complex with 32 ground floor pit garages that is currently under construction. The track also features an NHRA standard 830 m long, 17 m wide dragstrip with full capacity viewing for 10,000. The motor racing circuit has various licences ranging from National Grade 1 Motorsport Licence, FIA Grade 2 Motorsport Licence and International Motorcycling Safety Standards depending on which track configuration. A1 Team Ireland's driver Adam Carroll commented that the track has few bumps and is technical and tight.{{cite web |url=https://www.supercars.com/news/track-walk-taupo-international-motorsport-park-supercars |title=Track walk: Taupō International Motorsport Park up close

Lap records

The unofficial all-time track record is 1:14.072, set by Nico Hülkenberg on the qualifying of 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, New Zealand. As of January 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Taupo International Motorsport Park are listed as:

Other events

In a break from the usual open-road courses, Athletics New Zealand selected the Taupo Motorsport Park as the venue for 2024 New Zealand Road Relay Championships.

Notes

References

References

1. (16 January 2009). "OFFICIAL PREVIEW: Taupo". a1gp.com.
2. ''Taupo Race Track'' – ''Innovate NZ'', Brochure of the '2007 ACENZ Awards of Excellence', Page 18
3. (8 May 2008). "Motorsport: Taupo cash crisis won't hurt A1GP". a1gp.com.
4. (26 November 2015). "Taupo renamed after legendary Bruce McLaren". speedcafe.com.
5. (20 December 2021). "New Name, Branding, and Goals Revealed for Taupo Motorsport Park". autocar.nz.
6. (2008). "More about the Taupo Track". downforce.co.nz.
7. (2008). "The Track". tauporacetrack.co.nz.
8. "A1GP World Cup of Motorsport 2006–07 Round 6: Taupo - Results Booklet".
9. "Natsoft Race Timing".
10. (20 January 2008). "2007–08 Round 5: Taupo A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Feature Race - Classification".
11. Formula Scout. (17 January 2026). "Wood and Wharton win Taupo’s first FRegional Oceania races".
12. (7 February 2016). "2016 Denny Hulme Trophy Race Meeting - Toyota Racing Series - R15 - Race 2 Amended Result".
13. (10 January 2025). "RACE Race 2 - Formula Atlantic, SIXT Taupo Historic GP, Taupo International Motorsport Park, New Zealand - Official Event Results, MYLAPS Speedhive".
14. (14 April 2019). "2019 Motorsport NZ Championship - Taupo - TradeZone GT1/GT2 - GT1/GT2 - R14 - Race 2 (Rev Delay Starts 10 laps)".
15. (15 March 2025). "RACE Superbike/Superbike B - Race 2 Red Flagged, 2025 NZSBK - Round 4 Final @ Taupo, MX Timing (NZ) Ltd, New Zealand - Official Event Results, MYLAPS Speedhive".
16. (23 November 2024). "2024/25 Season - NextGen Championship - Race 1 - GTRNZ 1/2".
17. (21 April 2024). "2024 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia - Round 2, 2024: Taupo, New Zealand - Race 3 Results".
18. (12 April 2025). "2025 ITM Taupo Super 440 - Taupo International Motorsport Park - SuperV8s - Race 2 - Classification".
19. (12 April 2025). "2025 ITM Taupo Super 440 - Taupo International Motorsport Park - 2025 Repco Supercars Championship - Race 8 - Classification".
20. (13 April 2025). "2025 ITM Taupo Super 440 - Taupo International Motorsport Park - Central Muscle Cars - Race 4 - Classification".
21. (24 November 2024). "NextGen Championship Taupo - Round 1 - Bridgestone GR86 Championship - Race 2 Results".
22. (23 November 2024). "2024/25 Season - NextGen Championship - Race 2 - Nexen Tyres Mazda Racing Series".
23. (17 November 2023). "Taupo Motorsport Park hosts new-look New Zealand Road Relay Championships".