Eric Thompson: Whenuapai a logistical mess

Hampton Downs is purpose-built and could much more easily be home to the V8 Supercars than the Whenuapai air force base could be. Photo / Supplied

There has been a fair amount of chatter over the wires in the past few weeks about the V8 Supercars leaving Hamilton after 2012 and where they might end up.

There's been mention of the Whenuapai Royal New Zealand Air Force base as a possible new home for the big bangers. While not wanting to pour cold water on the concept, the logistics of holding a race there makes Hamilton look like a teddy bear's picnic.

For a start, it's an operational airport and as Jim Barclay, who was a base commander there between 1994 and 1998, explains, moving things out would be a logistical nightmare.

"It's a tall ask but anything is possible. When I was there you'd march 30 paces back on to the grass and put a rope up to keep the spectators back," said Barclay. "You can't do that any more. They've got to build a complete infrastructure, which is no different to a street race, I suppose. It certainly could be done but you'd have to ship the Air Force planes out for about two weeks.

"The search and rescue P3 Orion would also have to be moved across to Auckland International Airport and all that has to be paid for."

As well as being a former Air Force man, Barclay has had a love of motorsport since he was a boy and is still involved in the sport today. Having spent so many years in and around racing, Barclay, who was at pains to state he's not against the V8s going to Whenuapai, has a better understanding than most of what is involved in getting the base race-ready.

"I've read they're doing a replacement of the main runway and maybe can't run on some of that so would have to build another track.

"To build a track now it has to be to modern FIA standards and I'm not sure where they could do that at Whenuapai.

"You can't run modern-day race cars on concrete runways anymore and the cross runway at Whenuapai is so rough it would shake the car to pieces. I remember when I was flying Skyhawks, if we landed on the cross runway you might be lucky to get two landings out of the tyres.

"Guess what it would do to a joker's teeth if he was to race on it? Noise is a problem, also. The complaints we got from operating aeroplanes from the surrounding area was huge. So I'm not too sure how racing V8s there is going to go down."

Pukekohe has similar noise issues aligned to the ever-encroaching retail park that has some of the business residents already complaining about the sound levels during racing.

The one place that does appear to tick all the boxes, and is purpose-built to boot, is Hampton Downs.

Some say the Hampton Downs circuit is too short for V8 Supercars racing but, at 2.7km, it is longer than two Australian circuits already in use in the championship.

The Barbagallo circuit in Perth and Symmonds Plains in Tasmania are both approximately 2.4km in length. There are two other tracks in Australia, Hidden Valley in Darwin and Townsville, that are 2.85km in length.

"Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has cost over $30 million to build and is used every day of the year for driver training, corporate days and motor racing," said managing director Tony Roberts.

"Prime Minister John Key has talked about the importance of the legacy that the Rugby World Cup will leave in New Zealand, so surely having the V8 Supercars at an existing circuit makes more sense than building another temporary facility that is torn down following the weekend?"

At the moment, Hampton Downs has consent for only 20,000 spectators a day but Roberts has thought about getting around that.

"The council has been approached and the existing consent for 60,000 spectators over three days could be easily increased with a feasible traffic management plan.

"Satellite parking and the use of shuttle buses would allow for many more people than the existing 35,000 car-parking capacity," he said.

A bloke who knows a bit about motor racing, Greg Murphy, may be worth listening to.

"I am blown away with what has been done at Hampton Downs. The facility is without doubt the best in Australasia and is spectacular. The track has its own DNA and will generate great racing. It's hard to believe this is actually in New Zealand," the four-time Bathurst winner said last year.

Ultimately, though, the V8 Supercars will race where series' chairman Tony Cochrane decides they will.