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, 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) 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]
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| Location | Christchurch, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+12:00 |
| Coordinates | 43°31′50″S 172°28′47″E |
| FIA Grade | 3 |
| Owner | Canterbury Car Club Inc |
| Opened | November 1963 |
| Former names | Mike Pero Motorsport Park (2013–2023) Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park (2004–2013) Ruapana Park (1963–2003) |
| Major 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) |
| Full Circuit (1993–present) | |
| Length | 3.330 km (2.069 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1.15.810 ( Scott Dixon, Reynard 92D, 1998, F3000) |
| Original Circuit (1963–1992) | |
| Length | 1.609 km (1.000 miles) |
| Turns | 4 |
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 3.330 km (2.069 mi), along with other renovations.[3]
The circuit
The track surface is hot mix bitumen and runs for 3.330 km (2.069 mi) in a counter-clockwise direction with many fast sweeping corners. It rewards smooth and tidy drivers.[4]
It supports six layouts, from the 1.200 km (0.746 mi) "A Track" to the 3.380 km (2.100 mi) "Grand Prix with dipper".[5]
The track features on the motorsport racing simulation game Project CARS 2 as Ruapana Park.
Layout History & Track Configurations
Original Circuit (1963–1992)
'A' Trioval Circuit (1993–present)
'A' Trioval Circuit + Dipper (1993–present)
'B' Circuit (1993–present)
Club Circuit (1993–present)
Outer Circuit (1993–present)
Grand Prix Circuit (1993–present)
Long Circuit (1993–present)
Ruapuna Circuit (Mike Pero Motorsport Park) map
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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.[6] 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)[3] | ||||
| Formula 3000 | 1:15.810[7] | Scott Dixon | Reynard 92D | 5 December 1998 |
| Toyota Racing Series | 1:17.062[7][8] |  Lando Norris | Toyota FT-50 | 16 January 2016 |
| Formula Regional | 1:17.493[9] |  Michael Shin | Tatuus FT-60 | 11 February 2024 |
| Formula 5000 | 1:17.588[7] | Michael Lyons | Eagle FA-74 | 2 February 2014 |
| Formula 3 | 1:18.099[7] | Daniel Gaunt | Dallara F301 | 25 January 2004 |
| GT3 | 1:18.742[7] | Jonny Reid | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 8 September 2023 |
| Formula Atlantic | 1:20.143[7] | Ken Smith | Swift DB4 | 3 November 2013 |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:22.204[7] | Jarrod Owens | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 9 September 2023 |
| V8SuperTourer | 1:24.478[7] | Scott McLaughlin | Holden Commodore (VE) | 25 November 2012 |
| Trans-Am Australia | 1:26.390[10] |  Nathan Herne | Dodge Challenger[11] | 11 February 2024 |
| NZ Touring Cars (TLX) | 1:26.813[7] | Jason Bargwanna | Toyota Camry | 17 January 2015 |
| NZ Touring Cars (TL) | 1:30.122[7] | Tim Edgell | Ford Falcon (BA) | 28 November 2010 |
| Toyota 86 Championship | 1:35.846[7][12] | Ash Blewett | Toyota 86 | 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]
Notes
References
External links
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