''World-class'', ''sensational'' and ''nationally significant'' were just some of the superlatives being bandied about at the opening of the $20 million Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell.
The opening festival spanned Saturday and Sunday with a similar programme on the track both days, featuring about 60 vehicles. Between 7000 and 8000 people attended on Saturday and about 5000 on Sunday. The crowd was a mix of self-confessed petrolheads and others curious to inspect the completed facility.
The facility covers 88ha on the outskirts of the town and includes a 4.5km track, a national motorsport museum, a 48-garage Gasoline Alley, a kart track, a pedal car track and a restaurant. It was Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper's first time at a motorsport event and he was impressed by the transformation of the site.
The park's owner, Tony Quinn (55), a multimillionaire, based in Queensland, came to the Central Otago District Council about a year ago saying ''this is going to happen'', Mr Lepper said.
''We thought he was the real deal and holy moly, 12 months later; look at it now. It's a beautiful facility.''
The focus on having local contractors carry out the work was a ''fantastic economic fillip for Central Otago'', Mr Lepper said.
Racing driver Jim Richards, who was given the honour of cutting the ribbon on Saturday to open the track and driving the opening lap, said the park was ''world class - as good as anything overseas''.
He said the track combined the best elements of several tracks around the world - a comment echoed by race driver Craig Baird, who is based on the Gold Coast.
''Parts of it remind me so much of elements of international tracks. There's one bit that's like Monza, and other sections that remind me of tracks in Belgium and Australia,'' Baird said.
''The track is sensational - a man's track, old school ... too many modern-day tracks tend to treat drivers as if they should be wrapped in cotton wool. On this track, if you make a mistake, you'll pay for it, and it'll be an expensive day.''
Baird drove Tony Quinn's McLaren MP4-12C to set the first lap record of 1min 41.9sec on Saturday and reset it in the same car the following day at 1.40.5. He agreed with the ''world class'' tag and said Mr Quinn was a man of his word, and a man of action.
''Just look at what he's done for New Zealand motorsport with this facility.''
Mr Quinn paid tribute to the work of those who came up with the idea for the facility and persevered through the lengthy resource consent process. Fine weather prevailed for both days of the festival.
The vehicles completing laps ranged from race cars and rally cars through to a superkart. Cars as diverse as an Aston Martin, a Porsche and a 1906 Darracq grand prix car later gave way to a Ferrari, Datsuns and a BMW Mini.
Southland Sports Car Club patron Jack Johnstone (86), who has been involved in motorsport for 65 years, said the new facility was nationally significant and would benefit the industry as well as boosting the Central Otago economy.
