Official practice gets underway today for the penultimate round of the 2010/11 IRC Series, held at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park south of Auckland.
The IRC’s familiar ten class structure will again be out in force this weekend, with the GT1 & GT2, NZGT, Pro 7, SS2000, Formula First, Super Mini Challenge, Pre 65s, Formula First, Sports Cars and NZGT categories tackling the tight, technical and undulating Hampton Downs terrain.
An exciting championship that has spanned the length of the North Island’s four diverse motor racing facilities; from Pukekohe to Manfeild, with Taupo and Hampton Downs inbetween; this year’s IRC Series has pleased management in the cementing of the organisation as a professional, exciting and longevible figure in New Zealand motorsport.
The headlining act is once again the GTRNZ classes, most notably the GT1 & GT2 combined grid with high-horsepower machinery including Tranzams, V8 Supercars, Japanese super-tuners and hybrid racing machines.
The Tranzam cars in particular will have all eyes cast over them this weekend, with some sizzling lap times expected from the Jaguars, Corvettes and Camaros.
The NZ6 series is another to utilise the popular combined grid format, which is made up of the door-banging HQ Holdens and Super 6 Holdens and Fords. The NZ6 class is well known for its capacity grids, and this weekend at Hampton Downs should be no different.
Expect close racing in NZGT, with a large grid of machines including near-stock racers right up to heavily tuned, race bred machines, and the SS2000s providing similar racing to the with all manner of modified machines, up to a two litre capacity.
A wide range of Porsches from all eras will be out in force for the Bridgestone Porsche Series, witheverything from the GT3 Cup Cars to 944s competing for class honours, while in Pro 7 the ‘Plus’ class will again be leading the way with more epic battles expected between James Parker and Dean McMillan.
Also known forclose racing, but from a far more historic era, is the Pre 65 category, with multiple ‘classes within classes’ spicing up the racing as all competitors negotiate one another in the short sprint race format.
The Super Mini Challenge battles between the Mini 7, Mini Miglia, Open Class and Super Mini categories will see perhaps the widest spread of speed and development from the smallest, most humble cars in the IRC Series.
Though humble in horsepower and lap times, single seater race fans will be on the edge of their seats with the Formula First racing, which is famous for its close and competitive racing and slipstreaming battles in packs of up to ten cars.
The combined Sports Car and Formula Suzuki field showcases kiwi ingenuity with locally build sports car chassis up against the fast wings-and-slicks machines piloted bysome of New Zealand’s most recognised driving talent.
The Hampton Downs round of the IRC Series is the fifth round of a six round 2010/11 calendar, with the series travelling to Taupo in April to round out the race season.
The action kicks off at 9:00am on Saturday and Sunday; each class with a qualifying session and one race on Saturday, and two races on Sunday.
Tickets are available on the gate for $20, while a special group pass of up to five adults is just $40 for a full weekend pass. Children under 17 can enjoy the action for free.
