Star-studded line-up for Taupo’s Sixt Rent A Car Historic GP

THE SIXT Rent A Car Taupo Historic GP on January 10-12 in 2025 is set to deliver on and off the track at Taupo Motorsport Park in New Zealand, with plenty of stars confirmed to be in attendance.

The roll call of iconic names includes a contingent of world-class drivers, including Australian and New Zealand motorsport stars ranging from David Brabham to Brendon Hartley, Greg Murphy to Russell Ingall, Steve Richards to Craig Baird, Ken Smith to Roberto Moreno and many, many more.

A major feature of the SIXT Rent A Car Taupo Historic GP is the celebration of Formula Atlantic racing, with a 28-car field confirmed for the banner head feature race and 14 cars arriving from Australia to race against 14 Kiwi cars.

Australian cars include Andrew Miedecke’s recently restored March, Malcolm Oastler’s ex-Perkins Ralt, Peter Lucas’ pair of Ralt RT4s and four vehicles from Perth via Fastlane Racing.

The Kiwi side of the fence includes Ken Smith, young gun Kaleb Ngatoa in a two-time NZGP-winning Swift, Greg Murphy, Steven Richards in his recently purchased Reynard and Tim Miles in an ex-Jos Verstappen Swift.

The grid for the Formula Atlantic race on Sunday will be open to the public at 1.55 pm, with assembly at 1.45 pm at the pit exit.

2005 V8 Supercars Champion Russell Ingall will also be a special star at the event, reunited with his recently restored championship-winning Caltex Stone Brothers Racing Falcon and the Stone brothers themselves, Ross and Jim, who will be on hand.

The Ford marque is being celebrated at the Taupo Historic GP with over 100 of New Zealand’s finest Fords on display in the Ford Car Show & Garage opposite the pit exit adjacent to turn one.

Iconic cars will also be displayed behind the paddock pit garages, including Tony Quinn’s Tyrrell P34 six-wheel Formula 1 Grand Prix car and McLaren Supercars.

A 33-car field of Heritage Touring Cars NZ has been confirmed for the event, including a range of familiar Group A cars and Super Tourers.

Andy Greenslade will pilot his ex-Tony Longhurst B&H Ford Sierra RS500; while visiting Aussies, Tony Karanfilovski (ex-Seton PJ Sierra) and Carey McMahon (ex-Lawrie Nelson Mustang) will also join in the fun.

Two-time FIA World Touring Car Cup winner Paul Radisich will line up in the Heritage Touring Cars NZ category at the wheel of a Ford Mondeo Super Tourer.

Richard McCarthy has entered his ex-BTCC Park Lane Toyota Carina, the same car Greg Murphy drove in his Bathurst 1000 debut 30 years ago in 1994, and Kayne Scott will drive the Peanut Slab Sierra among a varied field.

The SIXT Rent A Car Taupo Historic GP will also feature a 13-car Formula 5000 grid of thumping V8 open wheelers from the 1970s and a field of 15 Classic Saloons and 23 HVRA Historic Saloons.

Additionally, modern open-wheeler action will be on show at the event via the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, with reigning Repco Supercars Champion Will Brown to be part of the field.

A free Pit Walk will be held on the Saturday from 12.10 pm, providing a chance for fans to take a stroll and meet the legends on hand. Later that afternoon, there will also be a free event from 5 pm, the ‘Legends Yarn’, with a range of the star legends appearing in the Iconic Car Display Marquee with a cash bar and food trucks on-site.

There will also be a Legends Signing Session outside the Iconic Car Display on the Sunday at 12.30 pm.

The SIXT Rent A Car Taupo Historic GP will be held January 10-12 in 2025 at the Taupo Motorsport Park.

Tickets are now on sale for the Taupo Historic GP event, and coverage will be live and free to watch globally via the STUFF Speedhub.