Timaru International Motor Raceway

Timaru International Motor Raceway is a motor racing circuit situated about 10 minutes or 8 km (5.0 mi) outside of Timaru, New Zealand. The circuit is accessible from either State Highway 1 or the Timaru-Pleasant Point Highway. It is often called Levels because of its previous name Levels Raceway. The Timaru International Motor Raceway holds some of the major sporting events on New Zealand's motorsport calendar.

Timaru International Motor Raceway
LocationTimaru, New Zealand
Time zoneUTC+12:00
Coordinates44°17′50″S 171°12′10″E / 44.29722°S 171.20278°E / -44.29722; 171.20278
FIA Grade3[a]
OwnerSouth Canterbury Car Club
Broke ground1967
OpenedNovember 1967
Former namesLevels Raceway
Major eventsCurrent:
NZ Super Truck Championship
South Island Endurance Series
Former:
Toyota Racing Series (2005–2014)
New Zealand V8 (2002–2014)
Long Circuit (1988–present)[1]
Length2.400 km (1.491 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record0:56.260 (New Zealand Greg Murphy, Reynard 92D, 1995, Formula Holden)
Short Circuit (1988–present)[1]
Length1.600 km (0.994 miles)
Turns5
Race lap record0:43.721 (New Zealand James Munro, Mygale SJ08a, 2012, Formula Ford)
Original Circuit (1967–1987)[1]
Length1.600 km (0.994 miles)
Turns7

History

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South Canterbury Car Club

Before Timaru International Motor Raceway was born there was The South Canterbury Car Club Inc, which was formed in 1947 and were only running hillclimbs and paddock events at the time. The club progressed from this to running the Waimate 50 Street Race on the streets of Waimate until 1966. In 1967 a street event was run in Timaru in the Craigie Avenue area. Land was then purchased at Falvey Road and a permanent 1.600 km (0.994 mi) circuit built, the first event held there was in November that year. The club continued to develop the venue running club and National Championship racing.

In 1988 the circuit length was increased to 2.400 km (1.491 mi) and develop to the international FIA category 3 standard that it is today, allows the South Canterbury Car Club to run international events as well as National Championships including the NZ V8 Touring Cars and Super Truck Racing. One of the events of Southern Festival of Speed, Bruce Pigeon Memorial, was held on 9 February to 10 February 2008.

The circuit

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The 2.400 km (1.491 mi) car racing track's surface is hard on tyres and brakes because it is chip tarmac. It has a mixture of tight "first and second" gear and fast flowing corners.[2] It is rated FIA grade 3.[3]

Lap Records

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The official lap record for the Timaru International Motor Raceway is 0:56.260, set by Greg Murphy in January 1995.[4] As of October 2021, the fastest official race lap records at the Timaru International Motor Raceway are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Long Circuit: 2.400 km (1988–present)
Formula Holden 0:56.260[4] Greg Murphy Reynard 92D January 1995
Toyota Racing Series 0:57.693[5] Jann Mardenborough Tatuus TT104ZZ 19 January 2014
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:00.390[4] Ryan Wood Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 16 October 2021
NZ Touring Cars (TLX) 1:03.689[4] Jason Bargwanna Toyota Camry 19 January 2014
TCR Touring Car 1:04.056[4] Rhys Gould Hyundai i30 N TCR 16 October 2021
Formula Ford 1:05.240[4] Richie Stanaway Mygale SJ08a January 2009
NZ Touring Cars (TL) 1:06.330[4] Angus Fogg Ford Falcon (BA) 22 January 2012
Short Circuit: 1.600 km (1988–present)
Formula Ford 0:43.721[4] James Munro Mygale SJ08a January 2012

Notes

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  1. ^ Timaru International Motor Raceway's Grade 3 licence expired 1 August 2022.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Timaru - Racingcircuits". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. n.d. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Motorsport NZ - Timaru". motorsport.org.nz. n.d. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "South Canterbury Car Club - Circuit Activities". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. ^ "2014 Toyota Racing Series - Timaru - Sunday Race 2" (PDF). 19 January 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
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