TERETONGA Park, on the outskirts of Invercargill, is the place to be this Labour Weekend (October 23 and 24) when the circuit hosts Round 3 of the Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series presented by Allied Petroleum.
Originally scheduled for this weekend, the event was postponed due to uncertainty around the Covid-19 alert levels in Auckland where many of the competitors are based.
The new date means an action-packed Labour Weekend for motorsport in the south as the series, featuring some of the most exotic racing machinery in the country, will make its annual visit.
One of the most eagerly awaited cars to race in New Zealand in recent times, the Dwayne Carter Brabham BT62 will attract much attention in the three-hour race.
Built by a company headed by David Brabham, son of legendary Formula 1 driver, constructor and three-time world champion Jack Brabham, who raced at Teretonga Park four times during his career, the car is powered by a 5.4-litre naturally aspirated engine producing just short of 700 horsepower.
The car weighs in at 972kg and features 1200kg of downforce.
Ranged against the Brabham will be Glen Smith, of Hawera, and John DeVeth, of Hamilton, McLaren 650S GT3 and an exciting field of racing machinery.
Entries were so plentiful for the one-hour race that two separate races will be held with cars such as Porsche, Corvette, Audi and Lotus interspersed throughout the classes.
While exotic marques abound, the V8-powered Toyota GT86 of Chris Henderson, of Dunedin, was another to keep an eye on.
Practise will take place on Saturday, October 23, with qualifying and racing scheduled for a huge day of competition from 9am on Sunday, October 24.
The event will be preceded by a club race day for Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons and Sports and Racing Cars on Sunday, October 17.
- Lindsay Beer
