Wikipedia

Euromarque Motorsport Park

(Redirected from Mike Pero Motorsport Park)

Euromarque Motorsport Park[1] (often referred to as Ruapuna) is a permanent motor racing circuit owned and operated by the Canterbury Car Club Inc on land leased from the Christchurch City Council. It is located at 107 Hasketts Road in Templeton, 13 km (8.1 mi) west of Christchurch, New Zealand. It was opened as Ruapana Park in 1963, and between 2004 and 2013 was known as Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park. Mike Pero joined the circuit as title sponsor from 2013–2023, as Mike Pero Motorsport Park. In the early parts of February 2023, the sponsorship deal was over, and Euromarque became the new title sponsor.[2]

Euromarque Motorsport Park, Ruapuna
Full Circuit (1993–present)
LocationChristchurch, New Zealand
Coordinates43°31′50″S 172°28′47″E / 43.53056°S 172.47972°E / -43.53056; 172.47972
FIA Grade3
OwnerCanterbury Car Club Inc
OpenedNovember 1963; 62 years ago (1963-11)
Former namesMike Pero Motorsport Park (2013–2023)
Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park (2004–2013)
Ruapana Park (1963–2003)
Major eventsCurrent:
Supercars Championship
Christchurch Super 440 (2026)
Former:
FR Oceania (2005–2006, 2008, 2015–2018, 2024)
Toyota 86 Championship (2015–2018, 2022, 2024)
Lady Wigram Trophy (2003–2004, 2006–2012, 2015–2018)
New Zealand Grand Prix (1998–1999)
New Zealand V8s (2002, 2004–2011, 2015–2018)
V8SuperTourer (2012)
Full Circuit (1993–present)
Length3.330 km (2.069 mi)
Turns11
Race lap record1.15.810 (New Zealand Scott Dixon, Reynard 92D, 1998, F3000)
Original Circuit (1963–1992)
Length1.609 km (1.000 mi)
Turns4

The track also features a drag strip, pit garages, racing school, speedway circuit and even a radio controlled car circuit. There are a number of configurations of the circuit with licences from FIA Grade 3 to National grades 1, 2 and 3.

History

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The track was opened in November 1963. The circuit was a fairly simple sealed surface road course, at just a mile in length and comprising essentially a flat tri-oval with an extended main straight down to a hairpin bend. In 1976 the main straight was widened and a staging area added to allow drag racing to take place. The biggest change in the circuit's history came in 1993 when it was extended to 3.330 km (2.069 mi), along with other renovations.[3]

The circuit

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The track surface is hot mix bitumen and runs for 3.330 km (2.069 mi) in a anticlockwise direction with many fast sweeping corners. It rewards smooth and tidy drivers.[4]

It supports six layouts, from the 1.200 km (0.746 mi) "A Track" to the 3.380 km (2.100 mi) "Grand Prix with dipper".[5]

The track features on the motorsport racing simulation game Project CARS 2 as Ruapana Park.

Layout configurations

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Events

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The circuit hosts both 2 and 4 wheeled events. The "Skope Classic" is a major annual event held at the track. The two-day-event includes practice and racing on Saturday and racing in classes on Sunday for classic and historic cars. It is one of the events of Southern Festival of Speed.

The track hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999. New Zealand born driver Simon Wills won both races in his Reynard 94D. In May 2025, Supercars announced that, for the first time, a second New Zealand event would be added to the 2026 calendar, joining the Taupō Supercars round at Taupo International Motorsport Park.[6] The initial deal was for three years and included various upgrades to the circuit.

Naming rights

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Since 2013, Mike Pero, founder of Mike Pero Mortgages and Real Estate, had a naming rights sponsorship deal to Ruapuna, which was known as Mike Pero Motorsport Park.[7] This deal ended in 2023, with Euromarque replacing.

For 10 years before, the naming rights had been held by Powerbuilt Tools.[7]

Lap Records

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The official lap record for the Euromarque Motorsport Park is 1:15.810, set by Scott Dixon on 5 December 1998. While the unofficial all-time track record is 1:11.265, set by Liam Lawson in a Rodin FZED on 21 January 2022.[8] As of April 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Euromarque Motorsport Park are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Full Circuit: 3.330 km (2.069 mi) (1993–present)[3]
Formula 30001:15.810[8]New Zealand Scott DixonReynard 92D5 December 1998
Formula 50001:16.126[8][9]New Zealand Blake KnowlesMcRae GM18 February 2026
Toyota Racing Series1:17.062[8][10]United Kingdom Lando NorrisToyota FT-5016 January 2016
Formula Regional1:17.493[8][11]South Korea Michael ShinTatuus FT-6011 February 2024
Formula 31:18.099[8]New Zealand Daniel GauntDallara F30125 January 2004
GT31:18.742[8]New Zealand Jonny ReidAudi R8 LMS GT38 September 2023
Formula Atlantic1:20.143[8]New Zealand Ken SmithSwift DB43 November 2013
OSCA Super Saloons1:21.458[8]Australia Luke YouldenFord Mustang7 January 2007
Supercars Championship1:21.925[12]New Zealand Matt PayneFord Mustang S65019 April 2026
Porsche Carrera Cup1:22.204[8]New Zealand Jarrod OwensPorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup9 September 2023
LMP31:22.269[13]New Zealand Steve RossLigier JS P3207 September 2025
V8SuperTourer1:24.478[8]New Zealand Scott McLaughlinHolden Commodore (VE)25 November 2012
Central Muscle Cars1:26.316[14]New Zealand Andy KnightChevrolet Camaro8 February 2026
Trans-Am Australia1:26.390[15]Australia Nathan HerneDodge Challenger[16]11 February 2024
NZ Touring Cars (TLX)1:26.813[8]Australia Jason BargwannaToyota Camry17 January 2015
GT41:27.240[17]New Zealand Russell McKenziePorsche Cayman GT417 May 2026
Mainland Muscle Cars1:27.318[8]New Zealand Brent CollinsMazda RX-71 November 2015
Formula Ford1:28.290[8]New Zealand Mitch EvansVan Diemen30 November 2008
NZ Touring Cars (TL)1:30.122[8]New Zealand Tim EdgellFord Falcon (BA)28 November 2010
Historic Touring Cars1:30.264[18]New Zealand Greg MurphyBMW M3 E36 Supertourer1 February 2025
NZ Touring Cars Championship1:35.565[8]New Zealand Jason RichardsNissan Primera07 January 2001
Toyota 86 Championship1:35.846[8][19]New Zealand Ash BlewettToyota 8618 January 2015
Mazda Racing Series1:36.704[8]New Zealand Chris White JrMazda RX810 February 2024
Formula Junior1:37.932[20]United States Robert HoemkeLola Mk58 February 2026
NZV8 Utes1:39.200[8]New Zealand Caine LobbHolden Commodore1 May 2008
Mini 71:44.582[8]New Zealand Gary JohnstoneMini Cooper4 April 2004
Ssangyong Racing Series1:55.389[8]New Zealand Daniel ConnorSsangyong Actyon21 March 2015

Ruapuna Speedway

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Adjacent to the main circuit (on the south side) is the Ruapuna Speedway. The track has hosted important motorcycle speedway events, including multiple qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship starting in 1976[21][22] and the New Zealand Solo Championship on 17 occasions from 1965 to 2007.[23] The track is operated by the Christchurch Speedway Association, and has no relation other than the name and land it shares, with the paved circuit.

Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ "Mike Pero Motorsport Park". Canterbury Car Club Inc. Archived from the original on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Euromarque Motorsport Park. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Ruapuna Park". Racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "On track for competitive driving". toyotaracing.co.nz. n.d. Retrieved 10 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ↑ "Maps". Euromarque Motorsport Park. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Supercars confirms first-ever New Zealand double-header | Supercars". www.supercars.com. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Mike Pero back in motorsport". 31 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Euromarque Motorsport Park - Lap Records". Euromarque Motorsport Park. February 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "SKOPE Classic 2026 - R37 - Formula 5000 - Bert Hawthorne Cup". 8 February 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "2016 Lady Wigram Trophy Race Weekend R5 - Toyota Racing Series - Race 1" (PDF). 16 January 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Michael Shin dominates for first FRegional Oceania win". Formula Scout. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "2026 ITM Christchurch Super 440 - Ruapuna Grand Prix Circuit - 2026 Repco Supercars Championship - Race 13 - Final Classification". 19 April 2026. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "2025 Speed Festival - Euromarque - Ruapuna - R24 - Race 4 - Open Saloons - Handicap". 7 September 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "SKOPE Classic 2026 - R21 - Muscle Cars - Race 3". 8 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "2023–24 Super Sprint NZ Championship - Round 5 - TA2 - Race 3 - Results". 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Herne's TA2 hat trick delivers Australia Trans-Tasman Series Lead". 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "Mag & Turbo Club Race Day 3 - Continental Rennsport & BMW E30s - Race 1 - 9 Laps". 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "SKOPE Classic 2025 - R3 - John Fairhall HTC - Race 1". 1 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "2015 Summer Fuel Festival R13 - Toyota Finance 86 - Race 2 (8 Laps)" (PDF). 18 January 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "SKOPE Classic 2026 - Sir Robertson Stewart Grand Prix - Official Result". 8 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  21. ↑ "World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  22. ↑ "World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "HISTORYCZNE ZESTAWIENIE WYNIKÓW 1929-2023". Speedway History. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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