Mr Quinn confirmed yesterday he had bought Hampton Downs, in north Waikato, and planned to spend a further $25million on the facility over the next year.
''Now I've got the best racetrack in the South Island and the best track in the North Island,'' he said. Highlands, at Cromwell, was opened in March 2013 and cost about $31 million.
''There's always a purchase or two to keep life rolling along ... and don't they say good things come in threes? I'll be keeping my eyes out for another, maybe in New Zealand or Australia or even America - I've got some stuff over there now.''
The Gold Coast-based millionaire said the investment was exciting and he would focus on Hampton Downs for a while.
''It's a great track and, to be honest, all the major stuff I wanted to do at Highlands is done now, so this is my new project .''
The two facilities would complement each other and the Australian GT Championships would end with a ''New Zealand double-header'' at Highlands and Hampton Downs. The two motorsport parks would not be ''competing'' against each other, he said.
''Highlands is centred around tourism and Hampton Downs is centred around the sport and the racetrack. The track is hired out 330 days of the year and they have very different circuits .''
He met builders at Hampton Downs yesterday and ''gave them a shopping list of things to be done before Christmas and another to be done by next September''. Tasks included completing the track extension and corporate suite, upgrading
buildings and constructing a go-kart facility, museum and members' garages. The park would remain open throughout and would be re-launched with a ''major international motorsport event'' in November 2016. Asked about the massive investment, he said ''it's only money, don't forget''. His father had died last week, aged 83, and that was a reminder not to delay ''living your dream''. Mr Quinn paid tribute to former Hampton Downs owners Tony Roberts and Chris Watson for the vision they displayed and the ''legwork'' they had done.
Another bid for the New Zealand Grand Prix was also on the agenda, he said. Highlands was unsuccessful last year.
Manfeild Park won the right to host the event for three years but with Manfeild ''heavily in debt'' another bid could be timely.
