Teretonga (meaning "Swift South" in Māori) is a 2.570 km (1.597 mi) motor racing circuit situated 8 km (5.0 mi) south-west of Invercargill, New Zealand. It is home of the Southland Sports Car Club. The circuit was established in 1957 and was the southernmost FIA-recognised race track in the world prior to 2023; it has now been succeeded by the Autódromo Enrique Freile in Argentine Patagonia. It is also the country's oldest purpose-built venue.
Regular racing programme includes rounds of the local Clubmans Series; featuring rounds of South Island Racing Registers and a very large Classic Car meeting in February of each year. The circuit is also used for Sprints and Motorkhanas. Other clubs run Motor Cycle and Drag Races at Teretonga. Regarded by many drivers as the best and safest track in the country, it has been up-graded on a continual basis.
History
- Since 1948, the Southland Sports Car Club Inc. has been one of the leading Clubs in the country. The Club entered the International motor race series in 1956 with the fastest-ever motor race on a road circuit at Ryal Bush. This led to the construction of Teretonga Park in 1957 at Sandy Point, the second purpose-built motor racing track in New Zealand. It was extended to its present configuration in December 1966.[1]
- In the golden age of NZ Motor Racing in the '60s and '70s, Teretonga hosted many of the world's greatest drivers for example, (Stirling Moss), Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, Phil Hill, the list goes on. There is a fine display of memorabilia in the Clubrooms.
- Since 1981, the club has been actively engaged in the New Zealand Rally Championship.
- On 29 November 1998, the current outright lap record was set by Greg Murphy in a Formula Holden Reynard 92D The time was 0:51.206 at an average lap speed of 184 km/h (114 mph).
- The New Zealand Grand Prix was first held on Teretonga in 13 January 2002. A record number of entries were received for this event, and it had been held at Teretonga for 6 years until 13 January 2007
- On 16 February to Sunday 17 February 2008, the "Leitch Motorsport/Southland Times Speed Fest", which was one of the events of Southern Festival of Speed, was held at Teretonga.
The circuit
As of 2025, a lap was 2.570 km (1.597 mi)[2] long, and run in anticlockwise direction with an 800 m (870 yd) main straight and a very high speed loop with multiple apexes. It flows smoothly from turns 1 through to 5. The circuit is exposed to a strong sea breeze and often forces gearbox and setup changes.[3]
Lap records
The official lap record for the Teretonga Park is 0:51.206, set by Greg Murphy in 29 November 1998.[4] As of January 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Teretonga Park are listed as:
Notes
References
- 1 2 3 "Teretonga Park - Racingcircuits". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "Teretonga - Home". teretonga.org.nz.
- ↑ "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Teretonga Park Lap Records". teretonga.org.nz. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "Summer Fuel Festival - Teretonga 2015 - Toyota Racing Series - Race 5" (PDF). 24 January 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "2026 Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy - Round 3 - Teretonga Park - Race 4". 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "1969 Teretonga Tasman". Motor Sport Magazine. 25 January 1969. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "2026 Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga - SP Tools TA2 NZ Championship - SP Tools TA2 NZ - Race 3 - Official Result". 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "Toby Elmiger - Driver Database". Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "Summer Fuel Festival - Teretonga 2015 - Toyota Finance 86 - Race 10" (PDF). 25 January 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "1965 Teretonga Tasman". Motor Sport Magazine. 30 January 1965. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "Teretonga International 1958". 8 February 1958. Retrieved 1 April 2023.