Highlands Motorsport Park

Highlands Motorsport Park
Location Cromwell, Otago
Time zone UTC+12:00
Coordinates 45°03′26″S 169°09′52″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)
Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Championship (2013, 2019–2020, 2022, 2024)
Former:
Australian GT Highlands 101 (2013–2016)
Aussie Racing Cars (2015, 2023)
Racer Products V8s (2019)
V8SuperTourer (2014)
Website http://www.highlands.co.nz
Full Circuit (2013–present)
Length 4.100 km (2.548 miles)
Turns 22
Race lap record 1:28.910 ( Liam Lawson, Tatuus FT-50, 2019, TRS)
'A' Course (2013–present)
Length 1.133 km (0.704 miles)
Turns 7
'B' Course (2013–present)
Length 1.090 km (0.677 miles)
Turns 2
'C' Course (2013–present)
Length 1.496 km (0.930 miles)
Turns 7

The Highlands Motorsport Park is a motor racing circuit in Cromwell, Otago, New Zealand. Opened in 30 March 2013, the facility features a 4.100 km (2.548 mi) circuit.

Circuit

The circuit offers on and off track driving, an outdoor go-kart track, off-road buggy driving, a sculpture park and "The Nose" restaurant. 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. The car is the most expensive production vehicle in New Zealand, 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.

Layout configurations

Highlands 101

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.

Past winners

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

the unofficial all-time track record is 1:23.753, set by Liam Lawson on 16 January 2022. As of January 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Highlands Motorsport Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Full Circuit: 4.100 km (2013–present)
Toyota Racing Series 1:28.910 Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-50 12 January 2019
Formula Regional 1:28.969 Callum Hedge Tatuus FT-60 14 January 2023
Toyota 86 Championship 1:52.573 Jaden Ransley Toyota 86 13 January 2019
'A' & 'C' Course: 2.910 km (2013–present)
TCR Touring Car 1:12.483 Chris van der Drift Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 23 April 2021