Words and pictures: Mark Holman
The seventh annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing chose Porsche as it’s featured marque this year, following two of the country’s top stars coming first and second at the wheel of Porsche 919s at the 2015 Le Mans 25 Hours. A number of top-flight racers helped to make it the largest ever gathering of Porsche vehicles to ever grace the island nation, numbering 285 examples.
A wide variety of Stuttgart-built racers took to the Hampton Downs circuit throughout the three-day festival, including a 935-77 and 1998 LMP-1-98 ably demonstrated by Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley, respectively. The pair were on hand to sign autographs and meet with fans, and were joined by fellow Le Mans racers Howden Ganley and Greg Murphy for Saturday’s gala dinner.
An ex-Kilpatrick Speedster represented older Porsche metal, which was brought to the event from the USA by regular visitor Ernie Nagamatsu.
