1995 New Zealand Grand Prix

May 2026May 2026 CUST New Zealand New Zealand Manfeild Autocourse track map (New Zealand) clockwise short.svg 8 January, 1995 Permanent racing facility Manfeild Autocourse, Feilding, New Zealand 1.885 3.033 27 50.895 81.891 Overcast Brady Kennett Reynard 91D 1:03.83 NZL Brady Kennett Reynard 91D NZL Bryan Hartley Dome 9102 NZL James Taylor Reynard 91D GBR The 1995 New Zealand Grand Prix event for open wheel racing cars was held at Manfeild Autocourse near Feilding on 8 January 1995. It was the forty-third New Zealand Grand Prix and was run to Formula Atlantic regulations. It also served as a round of the Lifespan Street Skills Motor Racing Series. It would also be the only New Zealand Grand Prix event to utilise the reverse layout of the Manfeild Autocourse. The event was won by Brady Kennett with Bryan Hartley and James Taylor rounding out the podium. Due to the low grid numbers owing to dwindling interest in the championship, the New Zealand Grand Prix marquee would enter a hiatus until 1998. Background The New Zealand Grand Prix had been a staple of the domestic motor racing scene since the first iteration in 1950. It continued to attracted a wealth of international driving talent through til the end of the 1980s. However, by the turn of the 1990s, the interest in the New Zealand Formula Pacific Championship began to fade and grid numbers began to shrink. For 1995, the entry list for the Lifespan Street Skills Motor Racing Series did not extend beyond single digits and only attracted one international driver, James Taylor from the United Kingdom, who was forced to lease a new engine for his car after his previous one expired in the Pukekohe round a week prior. The most notable entry on the grid would be defending New Zealand Grand Prix winner, Greg Murphy. For this weekend, the series organisers elected to utilise the reverse layout of the Manfeild Autocourse circuit. Given it was an unconventional layout and had never been done before or since for the marquee event, the reason behind this decision was unclear. Race report Murphy topped the timing boards in practice and was heavily touted as the favourite for the race. He would also win the penultimate race that would determine the grid order for the main Grand Prix. In that event, he was followed the chequered flag by veteran, Ken Smith and would share the front row with him for the main event. Grand Prix Both Ken Smith Motorsport entries of Smith and Shane Drake would not start the race, with Drake's car encountering clutch issues. Smith's non-start would make this the first race in over 30 years he would not partake in. Murphy led off the line and began to eek out an early lead. Such was the dominance of his outfit that by the end of the fifth lap, he held a 16 second lead over his nearest competitor. However, at the end of the main straight, his car encountered brake failure which also interfered with the throttle and sent his Reynard into the barrier at around 230km/h. His car subsequently went through the advertising hoarding sand into the wooded area that surrounded the circuit. Murphy emerged uninjured from the accident. On the restart, only five cars remained. Bill Farmer led the field from Bryan Hartley and Brady Kennett. By the end of the next lap, Kennett had moved past Hartley and shortly afterwards, he would take advantage of a spinning Farmer to assume the lead of the race. From there, Kennett remained unopposed and would remain the leader until the chequered flag. Five seconds behind him was Hartley and James Taylor rounded out the podium. Race results Pos No. Driver Entrant Vehicle Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 6 NZL Brady Kennett Mobil 1 New Zealand Ltd. Reynard 91D-Holden 27 8 2 4 NZL Bryan Hartley New Hardware Jeans & Activewear Dome 9102-Holden 27 + 5.0 4 3 3 GBR James Taylor European Technique Reynard 91D-Holden 27 3 4 7 NZL Bill Farmer New Hardware Jeans & Activewear Dome 9102-Holden 26 + 1 lap 6 5 8 NZL Maurice O'Reilly Chicane Clothing Co. Ralt RT4-YBM 24 + 3 laps 7 Ret 1 NZL Greg Murphy Greg Murphy Racing Reynard 92D-Holden 6 Accident 1 DNS 2 NZL Shane Drake Ken Smith Motorsport Swift DB4-Ford 0 Did Not Start 5 DNS 11 NZL Ken Smith Ken Smith Motorsport Lola T9150-Holden 0 Did Not Start 2 DNS 14 AUS Barry Ward Barry Ward Lola T9150-Holden 0 Did Not Start DNA AUS Paul Stokell 0 Did Not Attend Source:Rookie Takes Grand Prix February 1995 New Zealand Speedsport Ltd. 15–17, 301995 New Zealand Grand Prix https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/1995_New_Zealand_Grand_Prix 2026-05-09 thethirdturn.com en-GB Aftermath This race marked a low point for the New Zealand Grand Prix event. The low grid numbers as well as overall dwindling interest had diluted the event to the extent where, after 41 consecutive years of running the race, the New Zealand Grand Prix marquee would enter a hiatus that would last until 1998. The event would also be moved from Manfeild to Ruapuna and would not return to the Manawatū–Whanganui region until 2008. References New Zealand Grand Prix 1994 New Zealand Grand Prix 1995 1998 New Zealand Grand Prix expanded Category:New Zealand Grand Prix Category:Formula Atlantic New Zealand