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Drifting

2026 Mad Mike's Summer Bash 9

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata, New Zealand5 Dec 20261 day

Why You Should Go

A world debut F1 drift car and James Deane at Mad Mike's own festival

Format

One Day Drift Festival

Crowd

No 2026 crowd figure published

Vibe

A full day of drifting with a free kids zone

About This Event

Mad Mike Whiddett's own drift festival brings the world debut of his FORM1DABUL F1 Drift car and global drift star James Deane to Hampton Downs. The Top 16 Drift Superclass headlines a day that also runs gymkhana, open drifting and a circuit cruise open to the public.

1What to Expect

The FORM1DABUL debut: Mad Mike rolls out his F1 Drift car for its world exclusive debut, and his own fleet of drift cars runs on track during the day.
Top 16 Drift Superclass: New Zealand's top drifters battle in the Milwaukee Tools Top 16, with James Deane on the card and Formula Drift's Jarod DeAnda on the microphone.
More ways to go sideways: The Toyo Tires Insane Entry, the Summer Bash Skid King, open drifting and gymkhana all run on the day.
Show all 5
Off the track: The Hard Park, Vendor Alley, RC drifting and the SpeedNation and Next Level Racing simulators sit off track, and the KidZone with bouncy castles and face painters is free.
Spot prizes: Every ticket goes in the draw for prizes that include hot laps with Mad Mike in the car of your choice on the day.

2Best Way to Experience It

Gold

A grandstand seat by the drift circuit

The NZ$79 Grandstand ticket (2026) puts you in the raised seats beside the International Drift Circuit, where the Superclass battles run.

Silver

The VIP Trackside Lounge

The NZ$249 VIP ticket (2026) adds the trackside lounge and grandstand, with a trackside bar.

Bronze

The Star Insure Circuit cruise

The international track cruise is open to the public, so spectators can get out on the circuit themselves on the day.

About the Venue

Race Tracks

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park

  • 4 km
  • 10 turns
  • Opened 2009

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is near Te Kauwhata in north Waikato, and it's the northernmost circuit in New Zealand.

See the venue guideDirections

3Nearby Accommodation

4Logistics

Getting there

Driving

  • Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is at 20 Hampton Downs Road, Te Kauwhata, in north Waikato.
  • Spectators come in through Gate 1.

Public transport

  • No event bus or shuttle to the circuit is published for 2026.

Rideshare and taxis

  • No rideshare or taxi drop off point is published for 2026.

Best value route

  • Driving is the only way in named for 2026, as no shuttle is published.
Tickets and entry

Tickets

  • General admission from NZ$49 (2026), sold on Mad Mike Motorsport's Flicket page.

5Frequently Asked Questions

Suitable for kids?
Yes. The KidZone with bouncy castles and face painters is free.
How long does it run?
One day, Saturday 5 December 2026, from 9am to 5pm.

6Cost Breakdown

2026 pricesPrice
General AdmissionNZ$49
GrandstandNZ$79
VIP TicketNZ$249
Last verified: 6 November 2026Official link: hamptondowns.com

Tags

One Day EventVIP HospitalityDriftingShows and StuntsFamilies

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Tickets

From NZ$49

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