Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park at a glance
- Location
- Te Kauwhata, Waikato
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.8 km (2.361 mi)
- Turns
- 10
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2009
- Owner
- Tony Quinn
- Capacity
- 50,000
- Address
- 20 Hampton Downs Road
- Phone
- +64 9 280 6504
- Website
- hamptondowns.com
Track map and layout
Hampton Downs runs three linked configurations on flat, exposed farmland midway between Auckland and Hamilton. The full International Circuit is 3.8 kilometres and 10 turns, built around a 950-metre front straight and a 750-metre back straight joined by a mix of blind crests and cambered, flowing corners rather than tight hairpins. The shorter National Circuit (2.7 kilometres, 7 turns) and Club Circuit (1.2 kilometres, 4 turns) share sections of the same tarmac and are used independently for club racing, driver training and smaller categories, while the full International layout is reserved for headline meetings. A $25 million redevelopment completed in 2016 added the current International Circuit configuration and lifted the venue to FIA Grade 3 status. The circuit is privately owned and sits within a wider complex that also includes a drag strip, kart track and motocross facilities.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| International Circuit | 3.80 km | Full lap, 10 turns; used for headline meetings since the 2016 upgrade, including the New Zealand Grand Prix up to 2023 |
| National Circuit | 2.70 km | 7 turns; used for club and national-level racing |
| Club Circuit | 1.20 km | 4 turns; shorter club and training layout |
Events and race weekends
Hampton Downs hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix, the finale of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, up to 2023; the race has been held at Highlands Motorsport Park since 2024. The Summerset GT New Zealand Championship holds its season-deciding Grand Finale here in February, and the venue hosts a round of the Star Insure New Zealand Superbike Championship as part of the MotoFest Bike Show weekend in March, alongside the Suzuki-AMCC club series and touring car, GT and single-seater national championship rounds through the year.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MotoFest Bike Show | Star Insure New Zealand Superbike Championship (NZSBK) | March | Combined bike show, demo rides and NZSBK championship round |
| Summerset GT New Zealand Championship Grand Finale | GT New Zealand Championship | February | Season-deciding round; series also races at Taupo, Teretonga and Highlands |
Getting there and parking
Hampton Downs sits beside the Waikato Expressway roughly midway between Auckland and Hamilton, about 60 kilometres south of Auckland and 65 kilometres north of Hamilton. Auckland Airport is the closest international gateway at around 55 kilometres, roughly 40 minutes' drive south via the expressway, making it a realistic day trip from the city as well as a base for a race weekend. Hamilton Airport is a similar distance to the south.
- Auckland Airport (AKL) · about 40 min drive
- Hamilton Airport (HLZ) · about 45 min drive
The venue sits directly off the Waikato Expressway, so allow extra time on major race weekends when event traffic backs up on the exit ramps rather than the motorway itself.
Hotels and camping near Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
Hampton Downs is one of the few New Zealand circuits with genuine trackside beds: privately owned apartments overlooking the front straight are available to rent for race weekends, putting visitors within walking distance of the pit lane. Beyond those, most visitors base themselves in Auckland or Hamilton, both under an hour away, or in smaller Waikato towns such as Huntly and Te Kauwhata close to the venue. Self-contained motorhomes and caravans (no tents) can park on site for major events after checking in at the main office.
Where to look
Trackside apartment rentals overlooking the front straight, plus Auckland CBD/airport hotels and Hamilton, both roughly 40-45 minutes away, and smaller Waikato towns such as Huntly and Te Kauwhata closer to the gate.
Camping
Tent camping is not offered; the venue allows self-contained motorhomes and caravans only, with a parking sticker issued at the main office for major events.
RV
Self-contained motorhome and caravan parking is available on site for event weekends; contact the venue in advance for allocation.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Hampton Downs runs its own year-round programme of public track days rather than relying only on outside operators. HD Auto and HD Moto days put members' own cars and motorcycles on track in graded groups with instructors and ride/drive ambassadors, and the venue periodically opens the National circuit for general open-track sessions. Third-party operator Playday On Track also runs public car and bike track days at Hampton Downs, and race-car test days are available for competitors preparing race machinery.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula One (exhibition/festival) | 1:27.637 | Michael Lyons | McLaren M26 | 2017 |
| Formula Regional Oceania | 1:28.340 | Arvid Lindblad | Tatuus FT-60 | 2025 |
| GT3 | 1:29.887 | Broc Feeney | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | 2025 |
Spectator guide
The International Circuit's flat, open layout means most vantage points give sightlines across several corners at once rather than a single grandstand view, with the front straight and the fast, blind-crested Turn 1 braking zone the main draw for photography and overtaking. Being fully exposed farmland, shade is limited, so sun protection matters more than at bush-lined circuits, while Waikato's temperate climate keeps race weekends mild rather than extreme.
Best places to watch
Vantage points around Turn 1 and along the front straight give the widest views of braking and overtaking on the International Circuit.
Weather
- Jan-Feb: Waikato summer: typical highs around 23-25°C, generally dry
History of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
From dairy farm to national circuit
Hampton Downs began as a private venture rather than a government project. Developers Tony Roberts and Chris Watson bought dairy farmland at Te Kauwhata in December 2003 with the aim of building New Zealand's first purpose-built international-standard road course in decades, and ground was broken in February 2007. The circuit opened in truncated form on 18 October 2009, giving the Waikato region a permanent home for club and national motorsport for the first time.
Growth and international ambition
The original layout was always a first step. In June 2015 the venue was bought by Tony Quinn, the New Zealand-born, Australia-based businessman who also owns several Australian circuits, and under his ownership Hampton Downs underwent a roughly $25 million redevelopment. Completed in 2016, the project extended the lap into the current 3.8-kilometre, 10-turn International Circuit, added the shorter Club Circuit, and lifted the venue's homologation to FIA Grade 3, opening the door to larger international categories and record-setting exhibition runs.
Present day
Hampton Downs is now firmly established as one of the North Island's two major road-racing venues alongside the Taupō circuit, hosting national touring car, GT and superbike championship rounds, and one-off visits from international categories including a round of GT World Challenge Australia in 2025. Trackside apartments overlooking the front straight, a permanent kart track, drag strip and motocross facilities, and a busy year-round calendar of club and public track days have made it a genuine multi-discipline motorsport park rather than a single-purpose circuit.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Hampton Downs Motorsport Park?+
The full International Circuit is 3.8 km (2.361 mi) with 10 turns. The venue also has a shorter 2.7 km National Circuit (7 turns) and a 1.2 km Club Circuit (4 turns).
Who owns Hampton Downs?+
New Zealand-born businessman Tony Quinn has owned Hampton Downs since June 2015. It was originally developed by Tony Roberts and Chris Watson and opened in 2009.
Does Hampton Downs host the New Zealand Grand Prix?+
Not currently. Hampton Downs hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix up to 2023; since 2024 the race, the finale of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, has been held at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell.
Can you stay on site at Hampton Downs?+
There are privately owned trackside apartments overlooking the front straight available to rent, and self-contained motorhomes and caravans can park on site for event weekends. Tent camping is not offered.
Can the public drive or ride Hampton Downs?+
Yes. The circuit runs its own HD Auto and HD Moto track day programmes for members' cars and bikes, periodically opens the National circuit for general track days, and third-party operator Playday On Track also runs public track days there.
How far is Hampton Downs from Auckland?+
It is about 60 km south of Auckland and roughly 40 minutes' drive from Auckland Airport via the Waikato Expressway.
Other tracks nearby
- Pukekohe Park Raceway · 21 km · dormant
- Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park · 173 km · road course
- Taupō International Motorsport Park · 173 km · road course
- Cemetery Circuit, Whanganui · 287 km · street circuit
- Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon · 323 km · road course
- Levin Motor Racing Circuit · 364 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 9 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.