Hampton Downs Secures A1GP

The Hampton Downs management team are delighted to have secured future rounds of the A1GP beginning this season. Hampton Downs was designed by Formula One track designer, Clive Bowen, with high speed A1GP cars in mind. The circuit has been designed with flowing corners, rise and fall and plenty of passing opportunities each lap. The design incorporates modern thinking of extensive run-out areas coupled with a demanding yet safe racing environment. The 450 acre Hampton Downs Motorsport Park will be a corporate entertainment centre, with many other activities available and an extensive hospitality infrastructure.

Having the event in the North Waikato will be a major boost for National & Regional tourism plus the flow-on effect of economic benefits, estimated by the Government to be $25 million for the Taupo event. Placing the International A1GP in the middle of a much larger population base should increase these numbers considerably. Government assistance for the event is being sort along the lines of America’s and Rugby World Cup to ensure that the event is presented and marketed to an international standard for a maximum return on investment for New Zealand.

The proposal to A1GP International is a joint effort between Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and Graeme Osborne, CEO - Tourism Auckland, Paul Dunphy, Manager - Auckland Event Attraction & Development and Astrid Lambert, CEO - Enterprise Franklin. Future involvement will be with Council teams and Transit New Zealand.