Stirling takes pole position at Pukekohe Park

Track day specialist Gary Stirling is promising to keep improving the circuit at Pukekohe Park after becoming the new leaseholder for motorsport events at the venue.

Stirling, pictured, has been involved in running track days for about 20 years and has now taken charge of motorsport operations at Pukekohe Park, which is about 40km south of Auckland’s CBD.

He has been involved in improvements at the park in recent years, such as a new complex on the back straight and recent resurfacing work, and says in his new role he will seek further improvements.

“A lot of hard work has gone in by myself and others in recent years to improve the Pukekohe offering to motorsport and the car and bike enthusiast alike,” he adds.

Stirling’s first formal involvement with circuit motorsport came nearly two decades ago when he and Tony Bowman formed Playday on Track, which organises track days. 

The company was the resident track-day provider at Hampton Downs and has continued that role with Pukekohe Park in recent years.

“Enthusiasts on four wheels and two often spend their last leisure dollar on their pride and joy and taking it to an event or a track day and I have always been passionate and enthusiastic about giving them an awesome time in return for that commitment,” Stirling says. 

“We will of course continue that philosophy under my watch at Pukekohe Park and we will work very hard indeed to ensure that every race meeting, bike meeting, test day or track day at the track is a first-class experience for all.

“We are also very open to hearing from anyone with new ideas for on-track events or events at Pukekohe Park that have a motoring theme.”