The third annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing will take place next January 20-22 and 27-29 at the superb Hampton Downs circuit, and the event will celebrate a carmaker for the first time. Festival organizers have decided to focus the spotlight on German manufacturer BMW, so that the NZFMR celebrating BMW Motorsport will feature some amazing cars from BMW’s racing history, many that have raced in New Zealand.
A featured class will be the Group A and Invited Touring Car Challenge where classic BMW 635CSi and BMW M3s of the 1980s will once again battle against Ford Sierra Cosworths, Jaguar XJSs, Holden Commodores, Rover SD1s and Toyota Corollas and Coronas, many of which raced in the Nissan-Mobil 500 series at Wellington and Pukekohe in the 1980s and 1990s.
With its stellar racing history in New Zealand, BMW was always the preferred theme for the third NZFMR, according to Festival Chairman Jim Barclay. “In common with other major motorsport festivals like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival held in UK, we have an annual theme,” Barclay said, “and we want to celebrate cars and marques that have made an impact domestically and internationally. What better place to start than BMW, which has a rich history in motorsport? It’s great to be able to confirm that we have the full support of BMW in New Zealand and Germany as we work to make this the best New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing to date.”
Also on the bill will be the spectacular Formula 5000s, colorful grids of classic Saloons & GTs, Sports cars, Historic Formula Fords, Formula Juniors, Classic Trials and Pre-’63 Classic Racing motorcycles, along with the domestic BMW historic racing series. The Formula 5000 series in New Zealand is the strongest in the world, and entries are once again expected from the USA, UK, Europe and Australia.
For more information about the Festival, check the Festival website www.nzfmr.co.nz or contact chairman Barclay at jim@nzfmr.co.nz
