Pukekohe Park: remembering New Zealand’s spiritual home of motor racing

GREAT LOST CIRCUITS

Talented racing drivers have, over the years, been one of New Zealand’s best-known exports – just look at the number of Kiwis who have crossed the oceans and fulfilled their dreams of stardom in Europe. Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, Howden Ganley, Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley, Liam Lawson, Scott McLaughlin… the list goes on.

It’s no surprise, then, that the islands have some great circuits and the majority survive, supported by an enthusiastic fanbase. But not this one, Pukekohe Park near Auckland, which became, over half a century, the spiritual home of motor racing in the country. The New Zealand Grand Prix drew huge crowds, all the star drivers coming from Europe in the winter for the Tasman Series. Opened in 1963, Pukekohe was built around the perimeter of a horse-racing course, which meant it was mainly flat with a series of quick corners and a back straight that ended in a tight hairpin bend, inviting late-braking overtaking opportunities. In the early days an additional loop made for a longer circuit until, in 1967, this version was abandoned and the track began with a fast right-hander, followed by a chicane, before the cars came back onto the original course.

John Surtees won the circuit’s first big event, run to Formula Libre regs, in a Lola-Climax and in years to come the Tasman Series saw Chris Amon, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren all win. The circuit also hosted touring car races while the Marlboro motorcycle series brought bike fans flocking to Pukekohe to see the riders and their latest bikes ahead of a new championship season in Europe. Alastair Caldwell, McLaren F1 team manager in the 1970s, remembers when grand prix teams sent their cars and drivers to New Zealand for the Tasman Series.

“It was fantastic because in the 1960s the local guys could race against them in their own cars and Pukekohe was always the place to go after it replaced Ardmore as
the stage for the New Zealand Grand Prix.

I got to meet all the mechanics and they encouraged me to get to England to find work in racing there.” As mentioned, racing cars were not the only horsepower at Pukekohe. It was owned by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, which hosted horse-racing meetings on a track situated in the centre of the circuit. ATR decided that as from 2023 there would be no more motor sport at Pukekohe, preferring to focus on four-legged racing.

Thanks to a petition organised by Kiwi racers Greg Murphy and Scott McLaughlin, both Supercar series winners at the track, Pukekohe was laser scanned and digitally preserved for sim racing on screen.

“Pukekohe played a huge part in the rich history of motor racing in New Zealand,” said Murphy. “It’s the end of an era – the circuit was synonymous with the sport and it’s tough to realise that fans can no longer go to a place with so much history.”

Pukekohe Park Raceway
In use 1963-2023
Fastest Race Lap 51.807sec, Glenn Smith, Crawford DP03, GTRNZ, 2018