November’s Highlands 101 race meeting at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, Central Otago will feature a new Euromarque category as a key support class.

Having successfully developed and run the 101-lap endurance race format with its Le Mans-style running start for last November’s inaugural Highlands 101 meeting, Highlands Motorsport Park management also wanted to add their own stamp to the other categories which will race at the 2014 edition of this event taking place from 7 to 9 November.

Highlands’ general manager Mike Sentch says: “We’re looking for between 30 and 40 cars to create an exciting racing spectacle in the new Euromarque class which is very much in keeping with the European flavour of the Highlands 101 event which features the Australian GT Championship sports car marques such as Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin.

“We’re launching the Euromarque category this year with the German marques and invite competitors with a suitable vehicle to make contact with us by emailing entries@nullhighlands.co.nz to receive a copy of the regulations and entry form.”

Up to 40 competitors selected for the Euromarque category will contest their own Euromarque 10+1 races with practice, qualifying and three 11-lap races during Saturday and Sunday’s race action, forming a key part of the race schedule which includes the final two races of the Australian GT Championship season and the Highlands 101 feature race.

The qualifying race cars will be of a saloon or GT type with a German engine from the following manufacturers: Audi, BMW, BMW Mini, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Zakspeed Ford Escort, Ford Cologne Capri, Alpina, Volkswagen, Opel, Eggenburger Team, and Ford Germany Factory Team.

Sentch pays credit to the Canterbury Car Club’s Rennsport Register for inspiration and regulatory detail in helping the Highlands’ team create this year’s German brand-focused edition of the Euromarque regulations.

“If you’ve ever thought of running a Rennsport Register event, this is a perfect opportunity to give it a go.”

The 2014 Highlands 101 event takes place over the weekend of 8 and 9 November, with setup for competitors on 7 November. The race schedule includes:
the Highlands 101 endurance race with its unique mix of exotic GT race cars and big-name drivers;
the exciting season finale of the Australian GT Championship;
the Highlands 1+01 one-hour-plus-one lap invitational race;
and the Euromarque 10+1 three race series

The 2013 Highlands 101 race weekend proved very popular, attracting more than 20,000 fans over the three days, and there’s significant interest in both general admission tickets and corporate suites for the 2014 event.

Sentch says: “The combination of our stunning setting here just outside Cromwell, the beautifully-presented facilities that we all take such pride in, the complexities of the 13-corner main circuit, and the glamour of supercars racing at full speed creates a fantastic spectacle whether or not you’d class yourself as a petrol-head. The Highlands 101 offers a truly unique entertainment experience for corporates, large and small, as well as those who like to be close to the action from the many spectator viewing areas around the circuit.”