• Four buildings from Pukekohe Park Raceway, including the control room and podium building, will become part of the new Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park.
• The 3.2km Bay of Plenty circuit is being developed as a hub for grassroots motorsport and track-day enthusiasts.
• Organisers hope the new circuit could be operational by December 2026, providing a much-needed new venue for North Island racing.

Four buildings from the former Pukekohe Park Raceway will be relocated to the new Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park in the Bay of Plenty, preserving an important piece of New Zealand motorsport history while helping fast-track the development of the new circuit.

New Zealand’s newest race circuit has taken a significant step forward, with Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park securing several key buildings from the former Pukekohe Park Raceway, ensuring an important piece of Kiwi motorsport history lives on.

Four structures that were fixtures at the Auckland circuit – the control room, office block, training room and podium building – have been purchased from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and will form part of the infrastructure at the new Bay of Plenty facility currently under development at TECT Park between Tauranga and Rotorua.

Originally built during the Hamilton V8 Supercars era, the buildings were later relocated to Pukekohe Park when the Supercars Championship returned there in 2013. Their relocation to Thunder Ridge means they will continue serving motorsport in New Zealand for years to come.

Thunder Ridge founder Tony Roberts says securing the buildings provides a major boost to the project before construction of the circuit itself begins.

“They are proven and cost-effective buildings for Thunder Ridge and will allow us to progress significantly quicker,” he said.

“They are a ‘plug and play’ solution for us and of course it’s nice to save not one but two parts of New Zealand motorsport history and for them to live on and carry on being used at the new circuit.”

Roberts added that acquiring the infrastructure has helped shape the layout and operation of the new venue.

“We have tweaked the design of the circuit following feedback on the original design and now we have the main circuit infrastructure sorted out we are beginning to get a good idea of what the end product will look – and feel like.”

A New Hub for Grassroots Motorsport

Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park is being developed as a 3.2-kilometre circuit aimed at supporting grassroots motorsport, filling a gap that has existed in the Bay of Plenty region since the closure of Bay Park Raceway in 1995.

The project gained momentum last year when the Western Bay of Plenty District Council approved the development, clearing the way for construction to begin at the multi-sport TECT Park site.

Groundworks are expected to begin soon, and a board of directors bringing together a range of business and motorsport experience has been established to oversee the development.

Interest in the project is already strong, with multiple private garages for enthusiasts sold, along with enquiries and purchases from expatriate New Zealanders keen to secure access to the circuit.

A Welcome Addition to the North Island

For motorsport fans, the development of Thunder Ridge is particularly significant following the closure of Pukekohe Park Raceway, which for decades hosted some of the country’s biggest racing events.

If construction progresses as planned, organisers are hoping the circuit could be operational by December 2026, with its first track users arriving soon after.

That would provide the North Island with a much-needed new venue for both car and motorcycle racing, and one specifically designed to support club racing, track days and grassroots motorsport.

For riders and racers alike, the arrival of another dedicated race circuit can only be good news for the future of New Zealand motorsport.

To follow Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park’s progress, follow them on their socials or keep an eye on www.thunderridge.co.nz

Summary

Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park has secured several key buildings from the former Pukekohe Park Raceway, including the control room and podium structure, preserving part of New Zealand motorsport history. The new 3.2km Bay of Plenty circuit aims to support grassroots motorsport and could be operational by December 2026.