BEING crowned the inaugural Miss New Zealand Grand Prix gave Hayley Robinson the confidence to go on to win Miss Manawatu and also sparked an enthusiasm for motorsport.

The Palmerston North resident’s only regret is having to pass on her title to a fresh winner at the next New Zealand Grand Prix meeting, at Manfeild on February 9-10.

“It has been just such a wonderful experience I really wish I could repeat the whole thing again,” says Ms Robinson, a 19-year-old early childhood educator when she claimed the title.

Reinforcing that the allure of Miss New Zealand Grand Prix is that it was more than just a beauty contest, Ms Robinson commented: “My whole year has been awesome.

“Winning the prize package and title on the day was just the start – since then I’ve gone to many events and met so many new people. I didn’t know motorsport at all but now I think I could name a lot of drivers. I’ve loved it.”

She is delighted that the competition will carry on for the 2013 edition of New Zealand’s most important domestic motorsport event.

“I would recommend girls to enter; the whole weekend leading into the Miss New Zealand Grand Prix announcement was fantastic and the day itself was even better as the responsibilities we undertook gave a good idea of the host responsibilities that come with the title.

“It’s so much fun and if you do win it is such a fantastic experience. Motorsport is a completely different world. It has just been so cool.”

Manfeild Park chief executive Heather Verry says there has already been a strong initial response to the competition but there can never been too many contenders. The competition is open to women aged 18 to 27. Entries close at 5pm on January 28.

“Miss New Zealand Grand Prix offers opportunity for contestants to become immersed in the glamour and excitement of New Zealand’s biggest national championship motor-racing event.

“We broke new ground with this in 2012 and were delighted by the response. Hayley has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport and for Manfeild and it was wonderful to hear that her experience of our competition was acknowledged as being instrumental for her subsequent success in Miss Manawatu in July.

“Once again our initiative has an attractive prize purse and is set to be one of the highlights of a key event that brings a huge international motorsport presence to our region and is also so important to the racing futures’ of some of the brightest young stars of single-seater racing.”

Miss New Zealand Grand Prix’s first official duty occurs almost immediately after her crowning – when she is called upon to present the victor’s laurels to the winner of the Grand Prix, the premier event of the race meeting and the final race of the Toyota Racing Series.

“The New Zealand Grand Prix is the oldest and most sought-after continuously-contested prize in national motorsport, and we at Manfeild are continually working to add ‘special somethings’ in celebration,” Mrs Verry said.

“We intend that the Miss New Zealand Grand Prix competition, like the race itself, will go from strength to strength. It was an enjoyable event for everyone that added colour and vibrancy to the day.”

The full schedule of duties for 2013 contenders will be revealed closer to the New Zealand Grand Prix.

For further information:

Heather Verry
Chief Executive Officer,
Manfeild Park Trust.
06 323 7444 ext 3 or 027 482 9422
ceo@nullmanfeild.co.nz