Taupo International Motorsport Park and Events Centre (previously known as the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park) is a motorsports circuit located in Broadlands Road, Taupō, New Zealand. It is owned by Tony Quinn who also owns Highlands Motorsport Park and Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
The circuit was an upgrade from a Taupo Car Club's circuit to the new international layout in 2006. The Motorsport Park was completed in 2006 at the cost of NZ$13 million. It features driver training facilities, a motorsport business park with 13 first floor corporate suites and a second floor race control, corporate and catering complex.
History On 21 January 2007 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the sixth race in the 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix season and on 20 January 2008 it hosted the fifth race in the 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix season. In order to create more overtaking opportunities, a tighter chicane was introduced at the end of the straight. On 25 January 2009 Taupo Motorsport Park hosted the fourth race in the 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. Owing to the tight 'S' bend close to the start causing collisions in the past, the rolling start was replaced by a standing start for the 2009 event's Sprint race.
The Taupo Race Track project has received a Silver Award by the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand, praising the high-quality delivery of the project, which was designed and constructed in tandem to achieve very tight deadlines.Taupo Race Track – Innovate NZ, Brochure of the '2007 ACENZ Awards of Excellence', Page 18 However, on 8 May 2008 Newstalk ZB reported that the motorsport park was NZ$3 million in debt and the owners were seeking equity to help keep their business afloat.
The circuit was renamed Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on 26 November 2015, as a tribute to former Formula One driver and team owner Bruce McLaren (1937–1970). The renaming occurred as Taupo directors announced they would be rebuilding the circuit to maintain its FIA Grade 2 status. However, the circuit is renamed Taupo International Motorsport Park, after Tony Quinn purchased the circuit in November 2021.
In January 2026, the circuit hosted Giltrap Group Taupo Historic Grand Prix, with the main drawcard being Johnny Reid and the Black Beauty A1GP car.
The circuit The track includes four alternative configurations (consisting of , , and ), two separate pit areas, a three-story pit lane complex with 32 ground floor pit garages that is currently under construction. The track also features an NHRA standard long, wide dragstrip with full capacity viewing for 10,000. The motor racing circuit has various licences ranging from National Grade 1 Motorsport Licence, FIA Grade 2 Motorsport Licence and International Motorcycling Safety Standards depending on which track configuration. A1 Team Ireland's driver Adam Carroll commented that the track has few bumps and is technical and tight.
Lap records
The unofficial all-time track record is 1:14.072, set by Nico Hülkenberg on the qualifying of 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, New Zealand. As of April 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Taupo International Motorsport Park are listed as:
Category Time Driver Vehicle Date Track 1: (2007–present) A1GP 1:14.679 Neel Jani Lola A1GP 20 January 2008 Formula Regional 1:23.095 Zack Scoular Tatuus FT-60 17 January 2026 Toyota Racing Series 1:23.357 Jehan Daruvala Tatuus FT-50 7 February 2016 Formula Atlantic 1:23.669 Kaleb Ngatoa Swift DB4 12 January 2025 Daytona Prototype (GTRNZ) 1:24.495 Glenn Smith Crawford DP03 14 April 2019 Superbike 1:25.573 Mitch Rees Honda CBR1000RR SP 15 March 2025 GT3 (GTRNZ GT1) 1:26.528 Glenn Smith McLaren 650S GT3 X 23 November 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup 1:27.2983 Jackson Walls Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 20 April 2024 Supercars Championship 1:27.3233 Broc Feeney Ford Mustang GT 11 April 2026 NZV8 1:27.5139 Grant Brennan Chevrolet Corvette 12 April 2025 Central Muscle Cars 1:32.1979 Andrew Knight Chevrolet Camaro Z28 11 April 2026 TA2 1:32.7813 Caleb Byers Chevrolet Camaro TA2 11 April 2026 GR86 Championship New Zealand 1:40.0632 Ajay Giddy Toyota GR86 11 April 2026 Mazda Racing Series 1:42.402 Rex Edwards Mazda RX-8 24 November 2024
Other events In a break from the usual open-road courses, Athletics New Zealand selected the Taupo Motorsport Park as the venue for 2024 New Zealand Road Relay Championships.
Notes
References
External links
Circuit info