Circuits
Teretonga - Round 3 - 14-16 January 2011
- Nearest City
- Invercargill (8kms)
- Circuit Description
- 2.62km, 7 corners, Anitclockwise
- Surface
- Bitumen
- Top Speed
- 220-230 km/h
- Spectator Facilities
- Raised embankments, GA areas, Hospitality infield suites
- Lap Record
- John McIntyre - Ford Falcon BA - 1:02.263 (2005)
- Website
- http://www.teretonga.org.nz
A Falcon perspective - John McIntyre
The other old school circuit left in the country is also one of the most enjoyable. Fast and flowing with just 1 slow corner: 'The Elbow', which is first gear at 60k. We then sprint down the front straight reaching 240k before the 2nd best corner in the country: the left hand Sweeper which never ends. You hug the inside of the track here in 3rd gear, exiting right on the grass at the edge of the track. Castrol then begins the best series of corners in NZ, the 2nd gear cambered right hander tucks the car in before you shoot out the other side and grab 3rd for a left hander, then just hold on as you try to go through the next right hander flat. Just as you gather it up you need to brake heavily for the cambered left hander 'Brickyard' which spits you out towards the hairpin again.
A Commodore perspective - Andy Booth
Like Pukekohe up North Teretonga is the South Island’s ‘real’ racetrack. Fast, open and rewarding to get right, some classic V8 races have been staged here over the last few years. A 1st gear run out of the elbow sets you up for the big drag down the long front straight wide enough to accommodate up to 4 cars wide ……… just. Turn 1 is where the real fun starts, a corner like no other with a super fast entry, banked initially then flattening and tightening as it goes on and on forever. Brave individuals can make it stick round the outside here but you want to be well past before the last third of the bend where real estate can become a little scarce. Out of turn 1 comes a series of flowing, fun medium speed corners. The brickyard corner is a classic slow in, fast out corner and is essential to get right for the drag back down to the elbow, a 90 degree 1st gear ‘hand brake turn’ back onto the main straight. The scene of most of the passing that occurs at Teretonga, it’s also the scene of some of the more ambitious manoeuvres, of which the black marks in the braking zone are testament to. The elbow at Teretonga has also, in many people’s opinion, been the deciding point in the last 2 V8s Championships. Without doubt the most enthusiastic and die hard crowd, every year at Teretonga is an experience both on and off the track.
