New Zealand has always punched above its weight on the world stage when it comes to motorsport. Now, the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy (HDNZRA) will make it easier for drivers to gain the skills and experience they need to take their sport to the next level and develop the next generation of talent.
Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy has been created to upskill and support local and international drivers at a world-class facility. Whether you’re wanting to make the jump from go-karts to cars or have been racing cars for several years and want to hone your skills to improve as a racing driver, we have something for you!
The academy is primarily designed for up and coming drivers to learn basic and advanced driving skills but it is also open to club racers who want to improve their technique.
Hampton Downs is proud of New Zealand’s rich motorsport legacy and is fast becoming a hub for the sport with the Toyota Racing Series and drift car driver ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett’s team, just a few of the motorsport brands to be based out of Hampton Downs.
IMPRESSIVE INSTRUCTORS
Chief Instructor
DANIEL GAUNT (ACE)
Hometown: Auckland
Daniel has extensive history racing in both New Zealand and overseas. He is a 2-time NZGP Champion
- 2x Toyota Racing Series Champion
- 2x NZ Grand Prix Winner
- 2020 Asian Lemans LMP2
- V8 Supercar endurance driver 2009-2013
- Porsche NZ GT3 Cup Champion
- Australian Drivers Champion
- Indy Lights
Chief Engineer
MARK PILCHER
- Team Principal M2 Competition
- M2 Competition 7x Toyota Racing Series Champions
- Star Drivers – Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Nick Cassidy to name a few
Instructor
Paul Blomquist
- Formula Renault Sweden
- Swedish GT
- Carrera Cup Sweden
Instructor
Damon Leitch
- Toyota Racing series race winner
- 3rd Toyota Racing Series Championship
Ambassadors
Kenny Smith
- NZ Motorsport Icon
- 16x NZ Championships
- Over 50 years & counting racing!
Tony Quinn
- Owner Hampton Downs & Highlands Motorsport Parks
- Targa Tasmania Champion
- Fierce GT competitor
Greg Murphy
- 4x Bathurst 1000 winner
- V8 Supercar Icon
Young Guns Ambassadors
Matthew McCutcheon
- Toyota 86 Series 2021/2022
- North Island Formula Ford Champion
- F2 Midget Champion
Liam Sceats
- Formula Ford – North Island Series
- Formula Ford – NZ Series
- NZ Go Kart National Champion
Hayden Bakkerus
- Formula Ford – North Island Series
- Formula Ford – NZ Series
- North Island Go Kart Champion