Teretonga Park

(Redirected from Teretonga)

Teretonga (means "Swift South" in Maori) is a 2.570 km (1.597 mi) motor racing circuit situated 8 km (5.0 mi) south-west of Invercargill, New Zealand. It is home of the Southland Sports Car Club. The circuit was established in 1957 and is the southernmost FIA-recognised race track in the world (the Autódromo Carlos Romero in Tolhuin, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) is further south but is not FIA recognised). It is also the country's oldest purpose-built venue.

Teretonga Park
LocationInvercargill, New Zealand
Time zoneUTC+12:00
Coordinates46°26′26″S 168°15′39″E / 46.44056°S 168.26083°E / -46.44056; 168.26083
FIA Grade3
OwnerSouthland Sports Car Club
Broke groundNovember 1953; 70 years ago (1953-11)
OpenedNovember 1957; 66 years ago (1957-11)
Major eventsFuture:
FR Oceania (2005–2020, 2023, 2025)
Former:
Toyota 86 Championship (2015–2020, 2023)
New Zealand Grand Prix (2002–2007)
New Zealand V8 (2000, 2003–2019)
Tasman Series (1964–1975)
Grand Prix Circuit (1966–present)
Length2.570 km (1.597 miles)
Turns7
Race lap record0:51.206 (New Zealand Greg Murphy, Reynard 92D, 1998, Formula Holden)
Original Circuit (1957–1966)
Length2.414 km (1.500 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record1:01.800 (United Kingdom Jim Clark, Lotus 32B, 1965, F2)

Regular racing programme includes rounds of the local Clubmans Series; featuring rounds of South Island Racing Registers and a very large Classic Car meeting in February of each year. The circuit is also used for Sprints and Motorkhanas. Other clubs run Motor Cycle and Drag Races at Teretonga. Regarded by many drivers as the best and safest track in the country, it has been up-graded on a continual basis.

History

edit
 
Teretonga Park viewed from the air

The circuit

edit

As of 2020, a lap was 2.570 km (1.597 mi) [2] long, and run in anticlockwise direction with an 800 m (870 yd) main straight and a very high speed loop with multiple apexes. It flows smoothly from turns 1 through to 5. The circuit is exposed to a strong sea breeze and often forces gearbox and setup changes.[3]

Lap Records

edit

The official lap record for the Teretonga Park is 0:51.206, set by Greg Murphy in 29 November 1998.[4] As of January 2020, the fastest official race lap records at the Teretonga Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Full Circuit: 2.570 km (December 1966–present)[1]
Formula Holden 0:51.206[4] Greg Murphy Reynard 92D 29 November 1998
Toyota Racing Series 0:53.109[5] Lance Stroll Tatuus FT-50 24 January 2015
Formula 5000 0:53.762[4] Michael Collins McRae GM1 17 February 2019
Formula Regional 0:53.820[6] Liam Lawson Tatuus FT-60 26 January 2020
GT3 0:54.814[4] Glenn Smith McLaren 650S GT3 24 October 2021
Group 7 0:56.040[4] Jay Esterer McLaren M6B 10 February 2008
Porsche Carrera Cup 0:57.168[4] Ryan Wood Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 24 October 2021
Tasman Formula 0:58.000[7] Piers Courage Brabham BT24 25 January 1969
NZ Touring Cars (TLX) 0:59.276[4] Jack Smith Holden Commodore (VE) 20 January 2019
Group 4 1:02.047[4] Murray Sinclair Chevron B16 17 February 2013
Formula Ford 1:02.189[4] Martin Short Mygale SJ07a 16 January 2010
NZ Touring Cars (TL) 1:02.263[4] John McIntyre Ford Falcon (BA) 16 January 2005
Group 5 1:02.470[4] Tom Malloy Lola T70 2 October 2002
Toyota 86 Championship 1:07.148[8] Nick Cassidy Toyota 86 25 January 2015
Original Circuit: 2.414 km (November 1957–December 1966)[1]
Tasman Formula 1:01.800[9] Jim Clark Lotus 32B 30 January 1965
Sports car racing 1:17.200[10] Archie Scott-Brown Lister Knobbly 8 February 1958

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Teretonga Park - Racingcircuits". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Teretonga - Home". teretonga.org.nz.
  3. ^ "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Teretonga Park Lap Records". teretonga.org.nz. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Summer Fuel Festival Teretonga 2015 - Toyota Racing Series - Race 5" (PDF). 24 January 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  6. ^ "2020Speedworks Motorsport NZ Championship Castrol Toyota Racing Series Race 3 Race (25 Laps) started at 15:52:42" (PDF). 26 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  7. ^ "1969 Teretonga Tasman". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Summer Fuel Festival Teretonga 2015 - Toyota Finance 86 - Race 10" (PDF). 25 January 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  9. ^ "1965 Teretonga Tasman". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Teretonga International 1958". Retrieved 1 April 2023.
edit