Date Confirmed for Hampton Downs 12H

Photo: Australian GT

The date for the inaugural Hampton Downs 12 Hours has been confirmed, which will serve as the opening round of SRO Motorsports Group’s newly announced Asia Pacific 36 endurance cup.

The event, to be held at the Tony Quinn-owned circuit in New Zealand, has been scheduled for Oct. 28, 2018, as part of a joint promotion between SRO and the Australian GT Championship.

It will serve as the kickoff event for the SRO’s new cup, followed by similar 12-hour races in Sepang and Bathurst over a three-month southern hemisphere summer tour.

“It is going to be a big event and will have support from the Blancpain GT Series Asia and I believe that many Australian GT teams will be interested,” said Australian GT Series Manager Ken Collier.

“Obviously the NZ-based GT3 teams will be talking about the event also.”

Quinn, who also serves as the promoter of Australian GT, added:  “When I invested in Hampton Downs I planned to have first class international events at the circuit.
 
“To have the Asia Pacific 36 start at Hampton Downs, and with the support of Stephane’s organization, is going to put New Zealand on the international GT3 map.”

The 10-turn, 2.36-mile circuit, located 50 miles southeast of Auckland, will again host a round of Australian GT in October, as well as the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship. 

Collier said he’s begun work on securing support series for the 2018 event.

2018/2019 Asia Pacific 36 Schedule:

Oct. 28 – Hampton Downs 12 Hours (New Zealand)
Dec. 9 – Motul Sepang 12 Hours (Malaysia)
Feb. 3 – Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour (Australia)

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John