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Hampton Downs Safety Check + Safety Requirements

Vehicle Safety Check

Every vehicle has to complete a basic Safety Check before you are allowed out on the track. This is for your safety, and the safety of those around you on the track. Scrutineering will take place in the morning through Gate 2 once you’ve gone through the registration desk. Once your car has passed, you’ll receive your window sticker allowing your car access the track. You must then attend drivers briefing to get your drivers wristband and then you’ll be good to go. Please take your documentation received at registration with you to drivers briefing and please have your license ready as well.

If you miss out on registration/safety check times, you will not be allowed onto the track. No exceptions!

All vehicles

  • Brake lights (must be in working condition)
  • Working brakes
  • Indicators (not required for dedicated track cars)
  • Legal tread on the tyres
  • Battery clamps (must be secured and not able to move, even if it’s in a battery box).
  • Fuel leaks
  • Oil leaks
  • Wheel nuts secured
  • Seat belts (a seat belt is required for all drivers and passengers out on the track. Even the vehicles from the factory without a seat belt, it should have one installed).
  • Noise limit (All tracks have noise limits and you are to obey by the track limits. If your car exceeds the limits then you will be asked to rectify this and if still persists then you won’t be allowed to take your car back out on the track)
  • Firewall
  • Structural damage
  • Door cards

Extra checks for vehicles that are not road worthy e.g. dedicated drift cars, burnout cars, race cars.

  • Racesuit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved.)
  • Approved helmet and footwear
  • Rollcages
  • Padding on roll cage
  • Fuel system has to be fully sealed from drivers compartment
  • Secured seats
  • No sharp objects that can cause injury
  • No major windscreen cracks
  • All cars with a modified engine must have an overflow bottle and oil catch can if one isn’t already fitted

Please take the time to check over your car and gear prior to the event to make sure you get out on the track without any problems.

EV Vehicles

IMPORTANT… Since 2025 our track manager Matt has advised that EV’s are ONLY allowed in the cruising sessions for our events.  The Track Cruising sessions are fine.

Safety Requirements for sessions

CRUISING SESSIONS

  • Seatbelts (No seatbelt, No track time). Even if the vehicle did not come out without seatbelt from the factory.
  • Passengers welcome (must purchase a passenger band)
  • Enclosed Shoes
  • No neck brace is required and no race suit is required.
  • Vehicles equipped with roll cages that is in front of the driver must have padding on it.
  • If your wristband has been revoked for any reasons by the marshals, you will not be allowed on the track for the rest of the event.

ROLL RACING SESSIONS

  • Seatbelts (No seatbelt, No track time)
  • Race suit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved.)
  • Motorsport helmet
  • HANS/FHR Device – For vehicles which has a 4 point harness or greater, there are various tethered devices available including Hans, NecksGen REV, Impact Accel or Simpson Hybrid.
  • For a modified vehicle with a 4 point harness or greater the requirement is fire retardant boots and fire retardant gloves.
  • NEW ONE front seat passenger allowed in Roll Racing practice sessions only. (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver).

WET SKID PAN

  • Seatbelts (No seatbelt, No track time)
  • Enclosed Shoes
  • Race suit OR long sleeve shirt & pants
  • Motorsport helmet
  • Foam Neck Brace (optional)
  • Only ONE passenger allowed for Skid Pan. (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver).

BURNOUTS

  • Seatbelts (No seatbelt, No track time)
  • Enclosed Shoes
  • Race suit OR long sleeve shirt & pants
  • Motorsport helmet
  • Foam Neck Brace (optional)
  • Only ONE passenger allowed for Burnouts. (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver).

EXTREME SESSIONS

This is what the NZ Car Scene has been waiting for! For those that can’t resist the urge during the traditional track cruising sessions, ‘Extreme Sessions’ are the sessions for you! these are track cruising thrash sessions where you can drift out of the corners, do rolling power skids and roll race anyone on the straights. Sessions require safety gear and 1 front seat passenger is allowed.

Vehicle with Lap & Diagonal Seatbelts

  • Approved Motorsport helmet.
  • Race suit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved).
  • Closed in shoes.

Vehicle with 4 point harness of greater

  • Approved Motorsport helmet.
  • Race suit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved).
  • HANS/FHR Device – there are various tethered devices available including Hans, NecksGen REV, Impact Accel or Simpson Hybrid.
  • Fire retardant boosts and fire retardant gloves.

DRIFTING SESSIONS

All tyres must have a minimum treadwear of 140 or higher

Drift Battle:
Maximum of two cars; Fully Caged cars only (must have side intrusion)
Single drift only in all other cars

PPE:
Factory Standard Cars
Permitted only on the Club Circuit at Hamptons

  • Vehicles require a current Warrant of fitness (WOF) and Low volume vehicle (LVV) certification if modified as long as the fuel system has not been modified.
  • Lap & Diagonal Seatbelt – Certified helmet, single layer fire-retardant race suit, closed in practical shoes i.e., no steel cap work boots.
  • Vehicles without a steering wheel airbag require the driver to wear a foam neck roll
  • No passengers are permitted

Modified vehicles with fuel system modified and/or half cage and/or bolt in cage
Permitted only on the Club Circuit at Hamptons

  • If the vehicle has no logbook or current WOF, then vehicle/Safety checks must be performed by an HMP/HD/TMP Senior Management approved person e.g., Qualified Mechanic, MSNZ Scrutineer as per the agreed safety check list as signed off by Track Manager
  • Lap & Diagonal Seatbelt – Certified helmet, single layer fire-retardant race suit, fire retardant boots, fire retardant gloves
  • If the car has half a cage or a bolt in cage, it must have Bucket seat, Min. 4-point harness, certified Forward Head Restraint, certified helmet
  • No Passengers are permitted

Caged vehicles
Permitted on all drift tracks at Hampton Downs.

  • Bucket seat, Min. 4-point harness, certified Forward Head Restraint, certified helmet, single layer fire-retardant race suit, fire retardant boots, fire retardant gloves
  • Only caged cars with side intrusion bars can carry passengers. Passengers must adhere to the same PPE requirements as the driver.
  • Passengers must be in the same PPE as the driver and must be a minimum of 148cm tall.

GRIP SESSIONS

  • NO passengers allowed.
  • Sessions are for both caged and non-caged cars and will be separated into short caged and non-caged sessions.
  • Caged race cars only with MANZ/tech inspection log book.

Vehicle with Lap & Diagonal Seatbelts

  • Approved Motorsport helmet.
  • Race suit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved).
  • Closed in shoes.

Vehicle with 4 point harness of greater

  • Approved Motorsport helmet.
  • Race suit (All race suits must be minimum of single layer fire retardant. SFI or FIA approved).
  • HANS/FHR Device – there are various tethered devices available including Hans, NecksGen REV, Impact Accel or Simpson Hybrid.
  • Fire retardant boosts and fire retardant gloves.

PASSENGERS

  • Must purchase a passenger band once inside the venue.
  • Cruising – Passengers allowed
  • Burnouts & Skid Pan – Only ONE passenger allowed (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver – see above).
  • Drifting – If you want to try take passengers, you must have a full weld in roll cage, fixed back seats and harness as well as same safety equipment as the driver.
  • NEW Extreme Sessions – One front seat passenger allowed (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver)
  • NEW Roll Racing – ONE front seat passenger allowed in Roll Racing practice sessions only (Passengers must have the same safety gear as the driver).
  • Track Staff reserve the right to remove passengers if safety is an issue prior to you getting out on the track.

Please take the time to check over your car and gear prior to the event to make sure you get out on the track without any problems. Some safety gear is available to hire from Hampton Downs but is first in first served.