Programme of Events
For a full programme click here
-Both meetings of the NZ Festival of Motor Racing (NZFMR) celebrating BMW Motorsport to be held Friday 20 until Sunday 22 January and Friday 27 until Sunday 29 January 2012 will be racing on the track at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. See details about Hampton Downs on this Festival website under the Drop-down menu 'The Venue'.- There will be 9 race classes on the first weekend and 10 race classes on the second weekend of the Festival. One race class (Formula Juniors & Invited Cars) on the first weekend will be replaced by Classic Trials for the second weekend. A 10th class (Super Historics) will also be added for the second weeknd. See this Festival website under 'The Event' for a description of the Race Classes and Cars.
-There will be a lunch-time parade of classic and modern BMW cars on Saturday and Sunday of both weekends, lead by a BMW X6M Safety Car.
-Subject to there being good weather, there will be a brief air display by the RNZAF Red Checkers CT4E Airtrainer arerobatic team on Sunday 22th January 2012.
-There will be one 6 lap on-track demonstration held mid-afternoon each day comprising of selected cars, a number of which will be driven by drivers 'of the era.' The 1980 BMW M1 ProCar will also be on track for these sessions.
An Outline of Events & Activities by day is as follows:
First weekend - 20-22 Jan 2012
Thursday 19 Jan 12
Competitors unload race cars at the track from 1230 and build their Pits. Driver documentation and scrutineering begins at 1230. Track familiarisation for drivers starts at 1300 (1pm) after which there will be track familiarisation (not practice) by class groups behind the Safety Car. Following this, Mike Eady from BMW Driver Training will conduct on-track race driver tuition. Those who register with Mike on email mike.eady@Tracktime.co.nz will get a special rate of NZD$50.00 each for this group session.
Friday 20 Jan 12
Documentation and scrutineering begins at 0730. Driver's brief begins at 0800 'sharp' in Hamptons Conference venue in the Pit Paddock. At 0900, 15 minute practice sessions begin for each of 9 race class. After lunch, 15 minute qualifying sessions will be held for all 9 race classes. An on-track demonstration will be held with selected cars, including the ex Le Mans 24 hour 1981 BMW M1 ProCar - this will be held around mid-afternoon. After match drinks and food will be available at Hampton's.
Saturday 21 Jan 12
The first race will begin at 0900. There will be one race for each of 9 race classes in the morning and a further race for each class in the afternoon. At 1215 lunchtime, there will be a Parade of classic BMW cars followed by the BMW Driver Experience - see the BMW New Car Display at the Festival and register interest to be part of this on-track experience. There will be one demonstration run of 6 laps by selected special cars/drivers in the afternoon. After match drinks and food will be available from 6pm at Hampton's for the 'Castrol BBQ'. Entry will be by ticket at a cost of $25, which in turn will cover the cost of the BBQ meal. For tickets, see 'Tickets' on this website, or go to www.hdticketing.co.nz A 'pay-as-you-go' bar will be in operation. It is intended that Jim Richards and other drivers of the era will be on stage for a light hearted session. There will be an auction of a Don Packwood painting of the ex Jim Richards 'Sidchrome Mustang' - profits to the Bruce Mclaren Trust.
Sunday 22 Jan 12
Racing begins for the day at 0900 and each race class will get two races thoughout the day. Lunchtime on-track demonstrations will precede a brief aerobatic display by the RNZAF Red Checkers team. There will be a 15 lap race in the afternoon for F5000 cars. There will also be a special race on Sunday afternoon for Invited BMW cars. A 6 lap demonstration of cars will be held in the afternoon as for Sat 21st Jan 2012.
Second weekend - 26 - 29 Jan 2012
Thursday 26 Jan 12
As for Thursday 19th Jan the track will be available from 1230 for Pit Paddock setup by drivers and crews. At 1230 Driver's documentation and scrutineering begins. In the afternoon there will be opportunity for track familiarisation for any new drivers. After that, there will be opportunity for on-track familiarisation (not practice) by class behind the Safety Car for those that require it.
Friday 27 Jan 12
Free Practice begins at 0900 with 15 minute sessions for each of 10 race classes. The two race classes that did not race the previous weekend (Super Historics and Classic Trials) will combine qualifying with their practice session. Drivers Brief begins at 1230 sharp and will be held in Hamptons. After lunch there will be a race for each race class except F5000s who will have a 15 minute qualifying session. Aftermatch food and drink will be available at Hamptons.
Saturday 28 Jan 12
Racing will commence at 0900. There races for all 10 classes in the morning and a race for each class in the afternoon. At lunchtime, a parade of classic BMWs will precede the BMW Driver Experience session. In the afternoon there will be one race for each of the 10 race classes. There will also be a Demonstration of selected cars over 6 laps.From 6pm the Warsteiner 'Beerfest" of food and drink and a classic 'Oompah' band will be held at Hamptons. Tickets cost only $25 which in turn will cover the cost of a small Stein and your first 'Warsteiner' German beer. Austine caterers will provide a selection of Beerfest food at very favourable cost. Visiting former BMW Motorsport drivers will be introduced and an auction will be held of two Don Packwood paintings - a JPS BMW 635CSi and the ex Amon Stuck BMW 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile'. Please book your tickets early so you don't miss out! click here for tickets
Sunday 29 Jan 12
Racing begins at 0900. There will be races for each of the 10 race classes in the morning. There will be a lunchtime parade of classic BMW cars preceeding the BMW Driver Experience. In the afternoon there will races for each of the 10 race classes. The Formula 5000 cars will have a 15 lap feature race in the afternoon. There will be a special race for invited BMW cars on Sunday afternoon. There will be one Demonstration run of 6 laps by selected drivers/cars cars in the afternoon. Racing is expected to finish by about 5.30pm and this will be immediately followed by a brief Prizegiving at Hamptons.