Former Formula One driver turned television commentator Ivan Capelli thinks so highly of the Highlands Motorsport Park, Central Otago and New Zealand that he is looking for a Kiwi family to call his own.
Speaking shortly before taking to the track to contest the Australian GT yesterday afternoon with driver and car owner Jim Manolios, of Victoria, Australia, the Italian said: ''I'm trying to find some family here in New Zealand, because it is quite awesome.''
''I'm really astonished by the colour,'' he said, gesturing towards the Carrick Range behind the motorsport park.
''And the air is so clean. It's a big difference from Milan.''
The track itself was full of ''tricky lines'' and ''tricky braking areas'', but all in all, ''a very, very good circuit'' and totally incomparable to anything in Europe, Capelli said. And he should know - the 50-year-old was born in Milan and took up go-kart racing when he was 14.
Five years later, he was the Italian Formula Three champion and won the European title the following year. By 1987, he was racing full-time in Formula One. He joined the Ferrari team in 1992 but a short-lived relationship quickly saw his exit from F1. He also participated in 98 Grands Prix, achieved three podium finishes and scored a total of 31 championship points.
New Zealand favourite Greg Murphy was another driver having a fun weekend.
''No-one's here to win a sheep station; we're just here to enjoy it,'' he said.
''Amongst the competitors everyone is just stoked, amping.''
Tony Quinn too, despite having his creation tested by drivers and watched by people from around the world, was happy.
The official lap record of 1min 41.9sec, set by Craig Baird at the park's Easter opening, was broken by several teams yesterday, including Quinn and co-driver Fabian Coulthard in their Aston Martin DBR9.
