December 16, 2025 • 6 mins
A momentous day for New Zealand motorsport.
The Sir Colin Giltrap Raceway, a world-class karting facility in Auckland, is officially opening.
The track builds on the country’s heritage and pathway to the world stage.
It will be opened by Indycar champion Scott Dixon, who told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s going to be huge, especially for the young talent in this country.
He says that we pack a big punch for such a small country, so it’s really great to see that everyone’s pulled this off.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's a big day for New Zealand motorsport. The Sir
(00:02):
Colin Giltrap Raceway, which is a world class karting facility
in Auckland, is officially opening now. The track builds on
New Zealand's strong karting heritage and pathway to the world stage.
It will be opened by six time Indy Car champion
Scott Dixon, fifty nine career wins, the first key we
to win the Indy five hundred and Fresh Office twenty
fourth season and Scott Dixon is with us morning.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Scott, good morning. It's it's good to be back home.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It's been a little bit for me, so it's nice
to have a nice little rain show just recently here
in East Auckland and looking forward to getting up to
the Gokar track a bit later.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I would have loved you to have arrived to a
lovely New Zealand summer, but unfortunately you've come just as
the Colt snaps come through.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
But you just hang in there, Scott, it won't belong
It's Colin.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
It's Colin.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Don't worry now, have you If you've just landed. You
haven't had a chance to look at this track yet, have.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You No, we got in kind of late last night
and then we'll head out there this morning. You know,
I think it's it's huge and obviously I've heard you
know about the circuit through the Cunninghams and the people
that have been building it and cart sport and obviously
you know the gild Traps as well for many years.
But it's it's fantastic that they've been able to get
(01:07):
this development finished and it's going to be huge definitely
for you know, the young talent that we have in
New Zealand, and I think when you look at New
Zealand across many you know, sporting achievements, we pack a
big punch for such a small country and motor racing
with the heritage that we've had here from you know,
the early days of Bruce McLaren, the tradition.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Has been strong.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
So it's really really great to see, you know that
everybody has finally pulled this off.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
One of the lads was.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Just saying to me earlier in the news break that
we don't actually have a track like this, of this,
of this world class standard in Auckland.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Is that the case?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I think it's you know, it to get to
different levels, whether it's you know, for if I events
or or you know, carting or championships and things like that.
Most of that is held in Europe for obvious reasons
and always has been. But I think, you know, back
even if you look at you know, higher categories to
to you know, the Tasman Series and when if one
others used to come down here, you know, to have
(02:02):
this kind of facility now, I think for for young carters.
You know, I even remember at my you know, kind
of starting point in eight through ten. You know, you
do trips to get to you know, world class circuits
in Australia and then you know, around the world. But
to finally have one here in New Zealand, I think
it's going to be a destination. And what's really cool
about Australia and New Zealand obviously being southern hemispheres, that
it's the opposite weather and things like that, so you
(02:24):
can have championships where you know, you can have some
amazing talent from Europe and America come down and actually
race and some some great championships.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and presumably as a result of that, we only
get better and better, and we're already so fantastic around
the world. Literson tell me you, I'm fascinated by the
fact that you are still doing what you're doing at
the level that you're doing at your age.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
What is it that motivates you?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I just love it, you know, I think for me,
you know, it's it's kind of that key we never
give up style as well and not you know, we're
still winning, which is which is we're in a sport
of winning. If you're not winning, you're going to be out,
you know, to have twenty one consecutive seasons last or
this year with at least one win, you know, I
think the record was blown out maybe three or four
(03:08):
years ago. This year we had the record for most
podiums ever in IndyCar history, you know, a couple of
years back that most laps led ever at the end
OUTUS five hundred, which that record will never never be broken,
which is you know.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
One hundred and ten year tradition.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
So it's for me, it's it's the competition, you know,
I love just I hate getting beat, so that's the
biggest thing, and just wanting to win. Obviously this year
with my teammate had a steal a year, so definitely
have to step it up for next year to try
and go after that seventh championship you know in IndyCar.
But no, I just love it. I love racing. I've
been given an opportunity by so many great you know,
(03:42):
family members to supporters that I had here in New
Zealand that you know, including the gil Traps and PJ
and Craig Harrison, Kenny Smith. You know that the list
goes on that enabled me, and I want to make
you know, I want to make it worthwhile for everybody.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Is it hard on the body? I mean, what are
you forty five?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, you know, just a young young forty five.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
You know, I feel probably still in my early twenties
in the mind.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But Scott, don't you feel it in your knees sometimes
when you get up or you dog your hip drops out.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, I do a lot of those, you know kind
of getting up and you know, those those groans. But no,
you know, I've been I've been fortunate. You know, we're
with with injuries and you know obviously in IndyCar too
the crashes can be pretty big. But lucky on that
side of things. But no, I love I love training.
I love the preparation, you know, I love just being prepared,
and I think that's really helped the longevity of my
(04:34):
career for sure. So I do know that, you know,
I've got far less years left than when I first started,
and I just want to make the most of it
and I love doing what I do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Is there a point like, how do you know when
you're finished?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I think I think it's you know, you probably get
tired or you start noticing the small things kind of
annoy you. Yeah, you know, for me, the racing is
still what I love the most. Okay, yes, we have,
you know, a lot of other things around it. You know,
the driving part is so small now. I think when
you look at the the whole scheme of things, and
then if you just getting you're getting beat so often,
(05:06):
you know, I think that's probably a pretty good time
to hang it up. So, you know, for me, even
with a horrible season last year with so many penalties
and engine issues and things like that, you know, we
still finished it in the championship, so you know, we
we're still running strong. And for me, you know, we're
still winning and that's the main thing. So I think
you'll know, you know, I think it's different for everybody,
but I'll definitely know when it comes from.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah, I don't want you to think that I'm trying
to sort of like get you to think about it.
It's just that it's just that you are, like, it's
quite remarkable the records that you are seating. Tell me something,
Why do you think we're so good at racing.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
I think it's somewhat of a mindset.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
But honestly, we have really good facilities, better facilities coming,
you know, I think where we're in a lucky portion
even through my junior categories where I was talking about,
you know, the Southern hemisphere where you can have a
lot of internationals that come down. You know, it's very
rare that you have that level. And you know with
the Toyta series down here, you know, Formula Forward and
(06:03):
you know Formula B.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
For me, you know, you still.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Had a very very high caliber of you know, driver
talent that you competed against and you could really see
where you stood. And then I think, I don't know,
it's just that it's the mindset to Quis are pretty relaxed,
but they work extremely hard, and I think that goes
not just for the drivers around the world, but the
mechanics and you know, even on the technical side and engineering.
(06:25):
You know, keys are really loved in the world of motorsport,
so you know there's a lot of great attributes for that.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But yeah, I don't know. We've got a lot of
great talent down here, brilliant.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I'm so pleased to hear that you think that, Scott,
and thank you so much for talking to us. Enjoy
your day and enjoy your key with some of that
is Scott Dixon, IndyCar Champion and just honestly turning into
something of a goat, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
It's a big day for New Zealand motorsport. The Sir
(00:02):
Colin Giltrap Raceway, which is a world class karting facility
in Auckland, is officially opening now. The track builds on
New Zealand's strong karting heritage and pathway to the world stage.
It will be opened by six time Indy Car champion
Scott Dixon, fifty nine career wins, the first key we
to win the Indy five hundred and Fresh Office twenty
fourth season and Scott Dixon is with us morning.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Scott, good morning. It's it's good to be back home.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It's been a little bit for me, so it's nice
to have a nice little rain show just recently here
in East Auckland and looking forward to getting up to
the Gokar track a bit later.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I would have loved you to have arrived to a
lovely New Zealand summer, but unfortunately you've come just as
the Colt snaps come through.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
But you just hang in there, Scott, it won't belong
It's Colin.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
It's Colin.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Don't worry now, have you If you've just landed. You
haven't had a chance to look at this track yet, have.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You No, we got in kind of late last night
and then we'll head out there this morning. You know,
I think it's it's huge and obviously I've heard you
know about the circuit through the Cunninghams and the people
that have been building it and cart sport and obviously
you know the gild Traps as well for many years.
But it's it's fantastic that they've been able to get
(01:07):
this development finished and it's going to be huge definitely
for you know, the young talent that we have in
New Zealand, and I think when you look at New
Zealand across many you know, sporting achievements, we pack a
big punch for such a small country and motor racing
with the heritage that we've had here from you know,
the early days of Bruce McLaren, the tradition.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Has been strong.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
So it's really really great to see, you know that
everybody has finally pulled this off.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
One of the lads was.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Just saying to me earlier in the news break that
we don't actually have a track like this, of this,
of this world class standard in Auckland.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Is that the case?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I think it's you know, it to get to
different levels, whether it's you know, for if I events
or or you know, carting or championships and things like that.
Most of that is held in Europe for obvious reasons
and always has been. But I think, you know, back
even if you look at you know, higher categories to
to you know, the Tasman Series and when if one
others used to come down here, you know, to have
(02:02):
this kind of facility now, I think for for young carters.
You know, I even remember at my you know, kind
of starting point in eight through ten. You know, you
do trips to get to you know, world class circuits
in Australia and then you know, around the world. But
to finally have one here in New Zealand, I think
it's going to be a destination. And what's really cool
about Australia and New Zealand obviously being southern hemispheres, that
it's the opposite weather and things like that, so you
(02:24):
can have championships where you know, you can have some
amazing talent from Europe and America come down and actually
race and some some great championships.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and presumably as a result of that, we only
get better and better, and we're already so fantastic around
the world. Literson tell me you, I'm fascinated by the
fact that you are still doing what you're doing at
the level that you're doing at your age.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
What is it that motivates you?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I just love it, you know, I think for me,
you know, it's it's kind of that key we never
give up style as well and not you know, we're
still winning, which is which is we're in a sport
of winning. If you're not winning, you're going to be out,
you know, to have twenty one consecutive seasons last or
this year with at least one win, you know, I
think the record was blown out maybe three or four
(03:08):
years ago. This year we had the record for most
podiums ever in IndyCar history, you know, a couple of
years back that most laps led ever at the end
OUTUS five hundred, which that record will never never be broken,
which is you know.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
One hundred and ten year tradition.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
So it's for me, it's it's the competition, you know,
I love just I hate getting beat, so that's the
biggest thing, and just wanting to win. Obviously this year
with my teammate had a steal a year, so definitely
have to step it up for next year to try
and go after that seventh championship you know in IndyCar.
But no, I just love it. I love racing. I've
been given an opportunity by so many great you know,
(03:42):
family members to supporters that I had here in New
Zealand that you know, including the gil Traps and PJ
and Craig Harrison, Kenny Smith. You know that the list
goes on that enabled me, and I want to make
you know, I want to make it worthwhile for everybody.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Is it hard on the body? I mean, what are
you forty five?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, you know, just a young young forty five.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
You know, I feel probably still in my early twenties
in the mind.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But Scott, don't you feel it in your knees sometimes
when you get up or you dog your hip drops out.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, I do a lot of those, you know kind
of getting up and you know, those those groans. But no,
you know, I've been I've been fortunate. You know, we're
with with injuries and you know obviously in IndyCar too
the crashes can be pretty big. But lucky on that
side of things. But no, I love I love training.
I love the preparation, you know, I love just being prepared,
and I think that's really helped the longevity of my
(04:34):
career for sure. So I do know that, you know,
I've got far less years left than when I first started,
and I just want to make the most of it
and I love doing what I do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Is there a point like, how do you know when
you're finished?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I think I think it's you know, you probably get
tired or you start noticing the small things kind of
annoy you. Yeah, you know, for me, the racing is
still what I love the most. Okay, yes, we have,
you know, a lot of other things around it. You know,
the driving part is so small now. I think when
you look at the the whole scheme of things, and
then if you just getting you're getting beat so often,
(05:06):
you know, I think that's probably a pretty good time
to hang it up. So, you know, for me, even
with a horrible season last year with so many penalties
and engine issues and things like that, you know, we
still finished it in the championship, so you know, we
we're still running strong. And for me, you know, we're
still winning and that's the main thing. So I think
you'll know, you know, I think it's different for everybody,
but I'll definitely know when it comes from.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah, I don't want you to think that I'm trying
to sort of like get you to think about it.
It's just that it's just that you are, like, it's
quite remarkable the records that you are seating. Tell me something,
Why do you think we're so good at racing.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
I think it's somewhat of a mindset.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
But honestly, we have really good facilities, better facilities coming,
you know, I think where we're in a lucky portion
even through my junior categories where I was talking about,
you know, the Southern hemisphere where you can have a
lot of internationals that come down. You know, it's very
rare that you have that level. And you know with
the Toyta series down here, you know, Formula Forward and
(06:03):
you know Formula B.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
For me, you know, you still.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Had a very very high caliber of you know, driver
talent that you competed against and you could really see
where you stood. And then I think, I don't know,
it's just that it's the mindset to Quis are pretty relaxed,
but they work extremely hard, and I think that goes
not just for the drivers around the world, but the
mechanics and you know, even on the technical side and engineering.
(06:25):
You know, keys are really loved in the world of motorsport,
so you know there's a lot of great attributes for that.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But yeah, I don't know. We've got a lot of
great talent down here, brilliant.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I'm so pleased to hear that you think that, Scott,
and thank you so much for talking to us. Enjoy
your day and enjoy your key with some of that
is Scott Dixon, IndyCar Champion and just honestly turning into
something of a goat, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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