His name has been given to streets, an apartment complex, retirement village and even a school, but now the name of New Zealand Motor Racing great Bruce McLaren has it’s perfect place: over a circuit.

The Taupo Motorsport Park has been renamed the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in honour of the founder of the Formula One team which still bears his name, and came with the blessing of his daughter, Amanda, and McLaren Technology Group.

McLaren, was born in Auckland in 1930. He made his F1 Debut in 1959 and for several decades held the record as the youngest ever Formula One race winner.

After starting out driving for the Cooper team, McLaren founded his own operation in 1963. The famous orange cars won its first race at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.

It was a time of Kiwi dominance in motorsport with compatriot Denny Hulme conquering the North American Can-Am series driving his own cars. He also won the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour race in a Ford GT 40 alongside Chris Amon.

McLaren died following a testing accident in 1970.