Start your engines
Jonny Reid is reunited with ‘Black Beauty’ at Hampton Downs.
One of New Zealand’s most famous race cars has been restored and will be a feature of this weekend’s Giltrap Group Historic Grand Prix at the Taupō Motorsport Park.
A1 Team New Zealand’s iconic racecar has been restored to its former glory by Giltrap Group Motorsport.
It will be driven by original star driver Jonny Reid and will complete demonstration laps across the weekend on the same circuit where it entertained fans during the A1GP era in the mid-2000s.
The restored car was recently unveiled in public for the first time at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, where Reid was reunited with a car that stands as one of the more significant in New Zealand’s long motorsport history.
“I look at it today and I can’t even fathom that it was 20 years ago,” Reid said in a recent video produced by the Giltrap Group, documenting Black Beauty’s resurrection.
“The car doesn’t look 20 years old, it’s such a timeless car and I’m just really looking forward to getting back in and sliding it around.
“Every lap I was getting more confident in putting the throttle down and just really enjoying my time out there.
“I just can’t wait for the next time to drive the car again – it’s like we have a bond.”
A1 Team New Zealand enjoyed four successful seasons in what was dubbed the ‘World Cup of Motorsport’, including finishing runners-up in both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, with Matt Halliday and Jonny Reid sharing the driving duties.
The team won six races and scored 19 podium finishes across its remarkable, if brief, history.
Key highlights include starring performances at the pair of A1 Grand Prix of Nations events held at the then newly renovated Taupō Motorsport Park in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
The Historic GP is a highlight of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship at Taupō this weekend.
Former Supercars champion Greg Murphy will be in the Historic GP field this weekend aboard his Swift Formula Atlantic, competing against 2025 winner Kaleb Ngatoa.
The Historic GP celebrates the rich history of motorsport.
Alongside the Formula Atlantics and Formula Racing, fans will also be entertained by historic categories like the HVRA Saloons, Arrow Wheels Heritage Touring Cars NZ, Classic Saloons, and EURO Class, and a glimpse of future stars with the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
International stars Kalle Rovanperä and Ryan Wood will drive in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
Action takes place from Friday to Sunday. More information and tickets can be found at nextgennz.co.nz. There are also gate sales but tickets are cheaper online.