[socram]

The advantage Hampton Downs has is that is has effectively been built with private finance, and the long term plans of a convention centre, restaurants etc on site, added to the income generated from track hire, race meetings, corporate days etc, is a major bonus. Entry fees at Taupo are already way higher than at other circuits, and if they are not careful, they will price themselves out of the local market, trying to recover the debt.

Much of the HD finance was initially generated by the sale of 80 trackside apartments, ($24m income), 67 of which will be in the rental pool, giving the site owners a further income stream, of 12.5% of the apartment rental income. Add the sale of industrial units and lifestyle blocks; use of the campsite; planned 4wd course; kart track etc., and you can see that the long term is looking very rosy indeed.

Bear in mind that they are talking about $4,000 to rent an apartment during MotoGP week, and no doubt, from 2010, every chance of A1GP, with a similar income. The disadvantages for spectators are that there is no covered grandstand, and apart from the apartments, other accomodation is a bit further afield than say Taupo, but Hamilton and Auckland central are only 40 minutes away.

Not sure whether or not Colin Giltrap still owns four of the apartments either...

Companies such as Audi are already booking blocks of three weeks... BMW are building the driver training facility.

Track bookings for race meetings are already double booked for most summer weekends.

Apartments are almost finished with first block (Amon, Block A) due to open for rental about October 2008, and circuit probably ready for minor meetings January 2009.

I haven't driven the new Taupo, but drivers have mixed feelings. Hampton Downs is spectacular!