Manfeild

Story

Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon is a motor sport circuit located 14 kilometres from Palmerston North in New Zealand. It was built by the Manawatu Car Club in 1973 as a purpose built course. In 1990 extra land was acquired and the circuit extension built, bringing Manfeild up to international standards.HistoryThe original 3.033km circuit was built by the Manawatu Car Club Incorporated with the first event being held in 1973. A purpose designed venue with an uninterrupted view of the action, the circuit has workshop garages, hospitality suites and toilet blocks and sealed access roads throughout the pit paddock area.The name "Manfeild" was derived from "Manawatu" being the region the circuit is in and "Feilding" the town it is in.In 1990 the Car Club began looking at wider issues of governance and development. Extra land acquired extended the track to full International standards, and also accommodates Agricultural/Pastoral Shows.In October 2004 three land owners, Manawatu District Council, Feilding IA&P and the Manawatu Car Club deeded their land and formed the Manfeild Park Trust. The Trust has five appointed Trustees: Gordon Smith, Rod Titcombe, John Baxter, Debbie Hart, and Shelley Dew-Hopkins.Manfeild Park now encompasses what is now known as the Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon and the developing land that was the Feilding Race Course.Manfeild has held the New Zealand Grand Prix on six occasions (1992-1995, 2008–present).The overall 3.033 km Lap Record has been updated to reflect the correct record for the Clockwise direction. While Earl Bamber does hold the TRS record on Manfeild it is not the overall record. Simon Wills took the record off Graeme Lawrence who set a 1.02.1 record in either 1975 or 1976 in a F5000 Lola T332 (Car#14 painting in Marlboro Colours). There is record of faster times around Manfeild, but not during a race. Kenny Smith is reputed to have completed a 0.58 lap in a F5000 set in the early seventies, but it was only a demo lap. Johnny Reid has also completed a sub minute lap in an A1GP car, but again only as a demonstration run and promotion for the series running in New Zealand at the time.