Speed Works confirms February Hampton Downs meeting

Motorsport championship promoter Speed Works Events has confirmed its meeting at Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park next month will go ahead.

Organisers have worked through the red light setting requirements and will run the Hampton Downs meeting as planned over the weekend of February 12-13 – in accordance with Government rules for events during this phase of the pandemic.

“We have worked very closely with the circuit management and MSNZ along with categories to ensure the meeting can go ahead,” explained Geoff Short. “Safety is paramount and we have a straightforward plan where we can go racing safely and fully in accordance with the rules.”

Categories will be in their own defined spaces within the paddock and there will be two separate locations at the track for spectators, with each zone limited to 100 people. Vaccine passports will be required for anyone going into the circuit with an additional emphasis on everybody in attendance using the contact tracing app.

“The categories are supportive and we will have an Open GT race as the feature race in place of the Grand Prix remains,” added Short. “We will release more news of that later in the week ahead.”

As well as the Open GT feature, the meeting is also scheduled to include Super GT, the Toyota 86 Championship, NAPA Central Muscle Cars, TradeZone GTRNZ, NEXEN Tires Mazda Racing Series, Hi Q Components Formula First, the RYCO 24-7 V8 Utes and Racer Products V8s.

Speed Works was forced to cancel this weekend’s meeting at Taupo International MotorSport Park having been left with just days to completely re-plan how the meeting would be delivered under complex logistical rules.

Dozens of events have been postponed or cancelled since the Government moved the country to the red setting of the COVID-19 management strategy following the arrival of the Omicron variant in the community.