GT5 comp a highlight of Rally NZ's High Octane on Hampton

A Gran Turismo® 5 virtual racing competition is a major highlight among the real rally super special stages and top-flight racing at ‘High Octane on Hampton’ on Sunday 8 May.

High Octane on Hampton is a super-charged ‘side show’ of Rally New Zealand and takes place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park midway between Auckland and Hamilton this weekend.

Rally New Zealand chairman Peter (‘PJ’) Johnston is excited about the whole High Octane on Hampton concept.

“There’s a great pool of prizes up for grabs for the Gran Turismo 5 virtual challenge finalists,” says Johnston. “True GT5 fans will appreciate the opportunity to see one of the coolest cars in the Gran Turismo game – the HKS Racing Performer CT230R, a 417kW (560hp), 950kg weapon built by leading Japanese aftermarket performance parts manufacturer HKS around a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII and the fastest-ever car to contest the famous Japanese Tsukuba run.

Gran Turismo 5 is the world’s most realistic driving simulation game exclusive to PlayStation® 3. It allows you to race against friends/rivals, or against other virtual racers around the world, online. With over 1,000 cars, countless tracks including Top Gear, WRC and NASCAR courses, stunning graphics and infinite racing challenges, GT5 is the ultimate arena to settle any score.

“It’s going to be an absolutely amazing day at Hampton Downs and being able to see the now-retired CT230R actually there, at the track, is the icing on the cake. We thank Darryl Young of Redline Performance (HKS New Zealand) and Brad Lord of G-Force magazine for their help in securing this very special car for our display.”

Johnston adds: “Anyone can register to compete in the Gran Turismo 5 virtual challenge, which is made possible with the support of Sony PlayStation. Simply come to Hampton Downs Motorsport Park for 9am on Sunday 8 May, pay the entry fee to the circuit and look for the Sony signage to find the GT5 competition arena inside the pavilion.

“The GT5 experience is made all the more exciting when using one of the most impressive racing simulators to ever hit the market, the VisionRacer. Sold in over 40 countries, the simulator is the brainchild of a New Zealand design team, proving that once again Kiwis are in pole position when it comes to excellence in both racing and product innovation.”

For the first round of the GT5 competition, all entrants will ‘drive’ the HKS Racing Performer CT230R on Vision Racer simulation units and attempt to do the fastest lap on the Tsukuba Circuit. A scoreboard of times will be kept throughout the day, with the entrant with the fastest lap time receiving $500 cash and a special GT5 prize pack from Sony.

Then, the top eight competitors race off in a final time-trial session ‘driving’ Sébastien Loeb's 2010 Citroën WRC car on a Gran Turismo gravel rally stage until the grand winner is found. All eight finalists receive a GT5 prize pack and a $50 Gull petrol voucher, while the winner gets to take home their own Sony PlayStation3 console, $500 cash, $100 Gull fuel voucher and more from Red Bull and Sony.

David Hine, Director, Sales and Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment NZ comments: “We are extremely excited about the mix of both virtual and on track high octane racing action that will be on display at Hampton Downs. Gran Turismo 5 for PS3™ encompasses a wide variety of motorsport disciplines whether on Nürburgring, drifting or for the rally fans taking it to the dirt tracks. It will be great to see the top times in the GT5 Virtual Challenge at Hampton Downs.”

Rally New Zealand’s High Octane on Hampton event also includes the first-ever running of a Ken Block-style Gymkhana X competition, drift demonstrations from the stars of D1NZ, a time attack competition around Hampton Downs’ sweeping circuit, a Deluxe bikini model challenge, a 100-car park-up, and circuit racing from classic and modern muscle cars, sports and GTs, and a specially-invited field of Formula 5000s and Atlantics. While all the action takes place at Hampton Downs, the rally competitors tackle the mighty Whaanga Coast stage and five more before returning to the circuit for their final super special stage around 4pm, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.

Rally New Zealand 2011 is round two of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, in association with Neil Allport Motorsports. Access to rural rally stages is via gold coin donation to support the community groups which help with on-event parking and safety marshalling, while the adult ticket prices at Hampton Downs are $10 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday and include viewing for the rally’s super special stages run on the circuit. Fans can find the spectator map in the Spectator section of the event’s website, www.rallynz.org.nz, and also keep up with the latest news via Rally New Zealand’s Facebook page.