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Pukekohe Raceway Park was opened in 1963, intended to replace the Ardmore Aerodrome as host of the New Zealand Grand Prix, and was a regular event on the Tasman Series calendar from 1964 to 1975.
Crowds of over 40,000 would visit to watch legends such as Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, and Jim Clark drive during their "offseason" from Formula 1. In 1967 the southern loop was bypassed to create a much faster layout, which eventually led to safety issues. During a motorcycle race in 1973 Cal Rayborn was killed in the fast, sweeping turn 1. Tensions began to form between the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing company, who owned the land, and the track owners who leased it. No improvements were made to the track for over a decade, causing international racing to lose interest.
In 1988 the pit facilities were finally upgraded to the FIA's standard, bringing Group A touring cars to the circuit. Despite becoming a popular favorite in the V8 Supercar series, typical noise regulations put the track in danger again, followed by the COVID shutdown. When Pukekohe finally returned to the V8 Supercar schedule in 2022, it was announced by the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing company that the track would be demolished to expand their horse racing facilities.
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