TONY QUINN COMPLETES HAMPTON DOWNS PURCHASE
Tony Quinn has officially added a second New Zealand circuit to his business interests, completing the purchase of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
The Gold Coast-based Scotsman, who had made several previous plays for the North Waikato venue, takes over from current owners Tony Roberts and Chris Watson, with settlement due on June 2.
Owner of the GT Championship and Aussie Racing Car Series in Australia, Quinn adds the circuit to his existing Highlands Park facility in Cromwell, which opened in 2009.
“Fundamentally it’s got a good skeleton where a race track needs a million people close by to make it work.
“Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton is the golden triangle of New Zealand, so it will commercially be a viable track.”
Quinn has already committed to funding the long planned track extension, which will add a kilometre to the existing 2.8km layout.
“The track extension is essential to the commercial viability of the track,” he said. “It will definitely go ahead.”
The pet food and chocolates baron has promised to invest strongly in the facility ahead of a grand opening in November, 2016.
“A lot of what we want to do is pretty obvious, like finishing off the pit lane, extending the track and building another skid pan down the bottom.
“By the end of the summer, maybe March-April next year, a lot of those plans will be finished. Then I can see a grand opening of the track in November, 2016.”
Tony Quinn says he’s keen to see the V8 Supercars Championship race at the New Zealand venue in future.
“Pukekohe has got the deal for a while, but give it 18 months and Hampton Downs will be a truly international facility.
“With what we’ve got planned, I think that V8 Supercars will want to come to us.
“Whether they can do two rounds in New Zealand or do it a year-about (alternate), I’m not sure.
“They’ve got their own commitments to work through, but I’m more than open to having discussions with V8s at any time.”
Quinn confirmed that next year’s Australian GT Championship, which he operates, will end with a NZ double-header, visiting both Hampton Downs and Highlands Park.
The AGTC’s first visit to Hampton Downs would likely coincide with a “grand opening” of the upgraded venue, at which Quinn says “an international category” will be featured.
“Eventually what I’d like to see, ideally within the next three years, would be a GT3 grand final there,” he added.
“You could take the best six each from Australia, Asia and New Zealand competing for an Asia Pacific cup.”
Now with two NZ circuits in his portfolio, Quinn stresses a desire to help rebuild the local motorsport scene.
