Tim Miles Memorial Trophy added to key New Zealand Formula Atlantic Event

A new trophy that commemorates a late New Zealand racing great will become a new must-win addition to the Repco NextGen NZ Championship tour this summer.

The Tim Miles Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Formula Atlantic event that serves as a key support highlight at the 70th running of the NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix, to be held at Highlands Motorsport Park on 30 January – 1 February next year.

The trophy commemorates the life of the late Tim Miles, a longstanding supporter of New Zealand motorsport and a proud South Island representative on the global stage of both business and motorsport.

The winner of the Sunday feature race at Highlands will claim the inaugural Tim Miles Memorial Trophy, which is set to become an iconic, ‘must-win’ part of the Repco NextGen Championship each summer.

The Tim Miles Memorial Trophy will be the culmination of the two-event Formula Atlantic New Zealand Grand Prix double header, which will see the field of classic ‘wings and slicks’ racers return to also feature at the Taupo Historic Grand Prix two weeks prior to the Grand Prix.

Miles’ was a key supporter of the inaugural Formula Atlantic revival races that were a highlight of the Taupo Historic GP earlier this year and was a podium finisher in his ex-Jos Verstappen Swift.

“It’s an incredible addition to the summer of Motorsport in New Zealand and couldn’t be more appropriate,” said motorsport legend, Greg Murphy.

“Atlantic cars at Highlands are going to be a great sight and the competition will be fantastic; it will really add another element to the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix.

“Tim was passionate about the cars and the competition and for his first time in the car, drove superbly. It’s great he will be remembered through something he truly loved and by something that will put on an incredible show for fans at the New Zealand Grand Prix early next year.”

More than 25 cars contested the inaugural event at Taupo this year, won by Kaleb Ngatoa and featuring a broad array of cars and stars highlighting a remarkable period of international motorsport between the mid 1970s and mid 1990s.

“It’s appropriate to have the trophy named after Tim given, he had so much fun at Taupo earlier this year – he even beat Murph,” added Andy McElrea.

“He had waited a long time to get into that car, and he drove brilliantly and loved the experience. It’s very fitting and his family are absolutely thrilled to have the trophy named in his honour.

“There will be a lot of people very keen to win a trophy named after Tim, I can assure you!”

Under the guise of Formula Pacific / Mondial and Atlantic, the cars featuring in the double-header contested the New Zealand Grand Prix between 1977 and 1993, with star drivers including Keke Rosberg, Roberto Moreno, Paul Radisich, Craig Baird and a host of others featuring in period.

Another international grid of cars spanning that incredible era is expected to compete next January across the two-event format, with invitations to compete for all competitors now open.

International travel subsidies are available for cars travelling from overseas, while internal freight options are also available for transporting of cars and equipment from North Island to South.

Interested parties should contact the Repco NextGen NZ Championship team via the event website for more details.