Hamilton set for street race spectacle
It was back in June 2005 that the first seedlings of a Hamilton street race were born. But now only two days away, set-up for the inaugural Hamilton 400 street race in New Zealand is complete and the North Island city is rearing to host round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this weekend.
As the newest circuit on the V8 Supercar calendar, the Hamilton event is likely to boost the local economy by an estimated $20 million as more than 150,000 people are expected to descend on the Frankston business district by the time racing action starts on Friday morning.
Having already attracted positive feedback, V8 Supercars are expected to clock speeds of more than 240km/h mark around the 3.4km eight-turn circuit which in itself is a marvel in construction. Boasting 9,000 tonnes of concrete and steel in the concrete barriers and over nine kilometres of debris fencing installed, over 70,000 hours has gone into its construction including the grandstand, overpasses and amenities.
Sprint Gas Racing's Greg Murphy - who will debut a brand new VE commodore in front of a home crowd - gave it the thumbs up during a recent drive of the newly constructed circuit.
“I can't wait really,” Murphy told the media. “I've been involved since the early stages of planning and it is exciting to see it take shape. I am so impressed with everything that has been put in place. As a New Zealander you have to be proud of what's been achieved here.”
A four-time winner of the previously held Pukekohe round, Murphy will be one of six native New Zealanders in the 29-car field including teammate Jason Richards, Fabian Coulthard, Steven Richards, Shane Van Gisbergen and Kayne Scott in which both will make their first V8 Supercar start in NZ having never competed at Pukekohe.
Meanwhile, the retail district will be fully operational during the weekend for race fans to access and entry tickets will also provide access to the free concerts running on both Saturday and Sunday night in Seddon Park.
But come Sunday afternoon, the Hamilton 400 will take on a solemn note when the winner of the event - and each Hamilton 400 event to come - will not only take home round honours but the perpetual Mark Porter Memorial Trophy named in memory of the former Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver from the local Waikato region that was tragically killed in a racing accident at Bathurst in 2006.
Chronological Diary
July 2005 - Approach made by Michael Redman, then Mayor of Hamilton
January 2006 - Circuit found by helicopter flyover
February 2006 - Unanimous decision by Hamilton City Council to apply for consent.
March 2006 - Resource Consent planning commenced
September 2006 - Consent application lodged
October 2006 - Consent hearing commenced
November 2006 Consent decision handed down
December 2006 - The real planning begun
February 2007 - Asset tender documents preparation commenced
March 2007 - Tender analysis
April 2007 - Extensive Civil works programme commences
May 2007 - First major contract let [2000 4t concrete blocks awarded to Stresscrete]
May 2007 - 2300 debris fence panels arrive from Melbourne AGP [50 containers]
June 2007 - Full circuit documentation submitted to FIA
June 2007 - Accumulation of 8,800 tyres commences
July 2007 - First delivery of concrete barriers to yard
September 2007 - Civil work commences on pit lane
September 2007 - 1000th concrete barrier delivered
October 2007 - Concrete slab for pit garages poured
November 2007 - Overhead pedestrian bridges arrive
December 2007 - Civil works begin - Norton Rd Roundabout
January 2008 - Major civil works underway, pit structure continues
February 2008 - Manufacture of 2000 concrete barriers complete, grandstands begin.
March 2008 - Race Control Complex construction begins, track build begins.
Circuit
3.4km with eight turns [five right, two left and one chicane]
Top speed in excess of 240km/h [pit straight]
Three areas where speeds will exceed 200km/h
Concrete Barriers
2000 x 4m blocks, each weighing 4.5tonne.
Over 9,000 tonnes of concrete and steel.
Equates approximately to 1200 concrete truck loads
Debris Fence panels
2300 x 4m panels. 9.2 kilometres
Tyre Barriers
8,800 tyres bundled into 1760 stacks of five.
40,000 bolts, 40,000 nuts and 80,000 washers required to assemble tyre barriers
Cabling & Wiring
Incorporating PA system, Marshall communication loop, timing loop, telecommunications, TV production cables, TV signal cables and temporary power reticulation collectively joined would reach from Hamilton to Auckland
Steel
In excess of 350 tonnes of steel has been used in the construction of the four over track pedestrian bridges, three over track gantries, the pit structure, race control and concrete barrier pins, reinforcing and debris fencing.
Circuit Build
Circuit Build and Event Infrastructure Construction over an eight week period [including deconstruction] will exceed 100,000 man hours.
Six weeks for circuit build and two weeks for deconstruction.
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