Hamilton Street Circuit

Hamilton Street Circuit was a temporary street circuit in Hamilton, New Zealand. From 2008 to 2012 it hosted the Hamilton 400 as part of the V8 Supercars championship.

Hamilton Street Circuit
LocationHamilton, New Zealand
Time zoneGMT +12
Coordinates37°47′8″S 175°16′5″E
Major eventsV8 Supercars
Length3.4 km (2.1 mi)
Turns9
Race lap record1:22.8736 (Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing, 2012, V8 Supercars)

From 2010 to 2012, ITM, New Zealand's largest group of independent trade building supplies, sponsored the race and it became known as the ITM 400 Hamilton.[1]

Demise

Some residents of the city wanted the V8s gone, as they took over city streets and blocked residents from entering and exiting their own homes.[2]

On 14 December 2010, The New Zealand Herald reported that Julie Hardaker, the newly elected Mayor of Hamilton, and some councilors appointed an independent auditor to audit the cost of the race. The figures released on 14 December suggested that a NZ$3.5m cost to change the event to a different promoter (the original promoter, Caleta Streetrace Management, was collapsed in 2010), NZ$5.1m for operational costs and NZ$20.3m for set-up costs. The sum (NZ$27.4 million) did not include "commercially confidential" amounts such as event sponsorship payments.[3]

The cost to run the V8 Supercar event was eventually deemed too great[4] and the final V8 Supercar race was held on 22 April 2012; it was won by Mark Winterbottom.[5]

The circuit

Hamilton Street Circuit is 3.4 km long runs in a clockwise direction around the Frankton business district with the pit lane and main straight located on Mill Street. The circuit also goes alongside the Seddon Park and the Waikato Stadium.[6] It is generally a narrow race track with armco and concrete lined sides but it can be fast[7] and flowing.[8] There are plenty of passing opportunities and those who quickly dial into the contained style of street racing have the most success. The circuit is not very forgiving if the driver get off the racing line because it is surrounded by the aforementioned fences and concrete barriers.[9]

References
  1. Thompson, Eric (28 October 2009). "Motorsport: ITM deal boosts Hamilton 400". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  2. "Hamilton resident seeks to stop V8s". 3 News NZ. 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013.
  3. "Motorsport: Mayor "horrified" by cost of Hamilton V8s". nzherald.co.nz. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  4. "Pukekohe V8s to feature four races". 3 News NZ. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. "Mark Winterbottom wins thrilling final race at Hamilton ITM 400". 3 News NZ. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  6. "ITM Hamilton 400, New Zealand". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  7. "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. n.d. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  8. "ITM Hamilton 400, New Zealand". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. "New Hamilton street circuit will be quick, southern drivers say". drivesouth.co.nz. 18 April 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
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