A new virtual reality experience which gives people all the thrills and excitement of being in in a Supercar has been created in the lead-up to the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.
Members of the public will be able to wear a virtual reality (VR) headset, settle into a racing seat, and experience the adrenalin-pumping, high-octane excitement of a ‘hot lap’ around the Pukekohe Park Raceway at high speed.
The 2016 ITM Auckland SuperSprint takes place at Pukekohe Park Raceway on 4 – 6 November, and there are a host of free events across the region in the next fortnight, to get Aucklanders and visitors alike revved up for the return of the Supercars.
Motorsport fans and those who are simply curious can try the VR experience at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint fan activities in lower Queen Street, Aotea Square, and Pukekohe Town Square.
The VR experience was commissioned by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED). ATEED sponsors the ITM Auckland SuperSprint on behalf of Auckland Council, as well as developing and delivering Auckland’s new AR/VR Garage, a globally unique augmented and virtual reality development facility in Eden Terrace, which establishes this region as an international hub for this hot technology.
ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) is one of Auckland’s and New Zealand’s most dynamic tech sectors.
“Commissioning the VR experience is a win-win situation for Auckland, Pukekohe Park Raceway and the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.
“When we invest in major events on behalf of Auckland Council, we look at what long-term legacies they can deliver for Auckland. As part of our legacy work around the ITM Auckland SuperSprint, ATEED will provide Pukekohe Park Raceway with a licence for ongoing use of the VR software at the raceway, as an exciting experience for visitors to the park.
“It also gives an Auckland company and one of our inaugural AR/VR Garage tenants an opportunity to demonstrate what it can do, and Aucklanders a chance to experience this hot new technology first-hand, to see what all the excitement is about.”
The ITM Auckland SuperSprint VR experience has been produced by Auckland company Magnify, an inaugural AR/VR Garage tenant and organiser of the AR/VR summit during Techweek AKL 2016 in May.
Magnify founder Matt Coleman says his team is excited to offer SuperSprint fans the chance to experience what it is like to race around the Pukekohe track at top speed.
“We used a combination of 360º cameras inside the car so users can feel what it’s like to sit right beside the driver, for fans to experience a ride of their lifetime. We encourage everyone to try out this new technology platform.”
The AR/VR Garage will fuel Auckland’s growing AR/VR community, which includes game developers, screen and film producers, animators, educators and digital storytellers, and help grow New Zealand’s global digital industry footprint, jobs and investment.
The Garage includes project research and development space where virtual teams from around the world can collaborate on complex innovations, as well as co-location space for Auckland’s burgeoning AR/VR community.
ITM Auckland SuperSprint fan events (all free events)
ITM Auckland SuperSprint VR experience:
- Wednesday, 26 October at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint photo booth, lower Queen Street (outside Britomart Transport Centre), 11am – 2pm
- Thursday and Friday, 27 & 28 October and Monday and Tuesday, 31 October & 1 November, ITM Auckland SuperSprint photo booth, Aotea Square, 11.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday, 2 November at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint Pukekohe Fan Day, Pukekohe Town Square, 3 – 6pm
- Thursday, 3 November at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint Fan Day, Aotea Square, 11am – 2pm
ITM Auckland SuperSprint Movies in the Square
- Thursday, 27 October, Aotea Square, 7pm, Fast and Furious 7 (Mai FM)
- Friday, 28 October, Aotea Square, 7pm, Need For Speed (The Rock)
ITM Auckland SuperSprint Karting
- Fully booked, waiting list
- Tuesday, 1 November, Mangere, Highbrook and Henderson
- Free karting sessions at three Auckland karting tracks, where people can try and beat pre-recorded times set by New Zealand’s Fabian Coulthard and Australia’s David Reynolds
ITM Auckland SuperSprint Pukekohe Fan Day
- Wednesday, 2 November, Pukekohe Town Square, 3 – 6pm
- Photo booth for selfies, VR experience
- Four Supercars drivers will be in square form 4.30pm – 5.30pm, to sign autographs
ITM Auckland SuperSprint Fan Day
- Thursday, 3 November
- From 10am, display of American classic cars in lower Queen St, outside the Britomart Transport Centre
- At 11.40am, the classic cars will carry the Supercars drivers up Queen St in convoy, to Aotea Square
- From 12-1.15pm, Supercars drivers will be in the square, giving fans a chance to get autographs and selfies. The classic cars will be on display in the square from midday until 2pm.
- There will be entertainment in Aotea Square from 11am – 2pm, including a live band and the chance to have a go at the newly released Xbox Forza Horizon 3 game.
ITM Auckland SuperSprint
- Friday, 4 to Sunday 6, November
- Pukekohe Park Raceway
- The only New Zealand fixture in the Virgin Supercars Championship