The title “Grand Prix” has been in existence since the very early days of motorsport in the world.  In New Zealand this premier New Zealand race was recognised in 1950 on the Ohakea Air Force Base circuit.  It recommenced as our annual event in 1954 at Ardmore, another airfield circuit, and finally moved onto a permanent race track in 1963 at Pukekohe, where it remained until 1992 with the exception of the 1974 year being held in Christchurch at the Wigram Airfield as part of the Commonwealth Games.

The Motorsport Association of New Zealand Executive, in 1992, decided that this premier event should be open to other permanent circuits in New Zealand to host, hence the later years showing Manfeild and Ruapuna.

During the 1996 to 1998 period there was no contest for this event due to the demise of a New Zealand based premier single seater class.

However, in November 1998, in conjunction with MotorRace New Zealand Ltd, arrangement were concluded to restructure the Grand Prix based on a field of the Australian Formula Holden class thereby reintroducing the premier open wheel single seater class and providing the extra progression stage for the competitors.  With the demise of Formula Holden as a NZ Championship at the conclusion of the 2000/01 season  the title was allocated to the Formula Ford class with which it remained for four seasons.  The introduction of the Toyota Racing Series saw the title reallocated in the 2005/06 season to this NZ Championship