Est. 2000 · Ruapuna, Christchurch

Find the time you didn't know you had.

One-on-one race driver coaching based at Euromarque Motorsport Park, and available at any circuit in New Zealand. Chris Hyde, the school Toyota 86 or your own car, and a coach who has spent decades unlocking pace.

2000Established
1:1Coaching ratio
40Laps per session
AnyNZ circuit
The School

Seat time, done properly.

No gimmicks and no screens. The fastest way to find lap time is still in a car, on track, with the right coach beside you.

Ruapuna looks simple. It takes years of trial and error to learn — or the right coach to shortcut the process.

Every programme is one-on-one and built around you: your car, your experience and what you want to achieve. Most sessions run at Euromarque Motorsport Park, and we can coach you at any circuit in New Zealand, whether that is Hampton Downs, Highlands, Teretonga or your home track ahead of a race weekend. Fly in from anywhere in New Zealand or overseas and gain a level of track knowledge that would otherwise take seasons to earn, at a fraction of the cost of comparable coaching in the UK, Europe, the US or Australia.

Programmes

Choose your car.

Two ways to train: in the school Toyota 86, or in your own car. Both are one-on-one with Chris, start with theory, and break the laps into sets so every run builds on the last.

School Car01

Advanced One-on-One

School Toyota 86 Race Car

Our core driver training programme to sharpen your skills on track. The Toyota 86 is the ideal training car: light, low, balanced and full of mechanical grip, so it rewards precision and exposes bad habits quickly.

40Laps
4Sets
1:1Coaching
  • Full theory session: straight-line entry, throttle application, mechanical grip and car balance
  • Race-prepared Toyota 86 with MoTeC dash and data logging
  • Approx. 40 laps of Euromarque Motorsport Park, with debriefs between sets
$1,380NZD per driver
Enquire
Your Car02

Bring Your Own

Your Supercar or Sports Car

Bought something special, or racing your own car this season? Chris builds a tailored programme around you and your car, so you learn exactly how it behaves at the limit and how to get the most from it.

3hMinimum
YourCar
1:1Coaching
  • Programme tailored to your vehicle and goals
  • Club racers, track day regulars and new supercar owners welcome
  • Minimum three-hour session; track hire additional
  • At Euromarque Motorsport Park or any NZ circuit
POAPrice on application
Enquire

Racing at another track?

Chris is based at Euromarque Motorsport Park and happy to travel to circuits around New Zealand. Learn a new track before race weekend, or have him trackside to help you find the last few tenths.

Ask About Travel
The Method

Theory. Laps.
Debrief. Repeat.

A structured process refined over more than two decades of coaching. No guesswork, no wasted laps.

01

Theory

We start off track. Entry speed, braking, throttle application, grip and balance — the principles that make every lap that follows count.

02

Track Knowledge

Lines, braking markers and reference points, corner by corner. Walking and talking the circuit before you turn a wheel in anger.

03

Track Sets

Laps are broken into focused sets, each with a clear objective, so you are working on one thing at a time rather than everything at once.

04

Analysis

Between sets we review what happened, using data and observation, then refine and go again. Each run builds on the last until the lap time comes to you.

Who We Coach

From first laps
to championships.

Karters Stepping Up

Make the transition from karts to cars with confidence, whether you're heading to Formula Ford, Toyota 86 or single-seaters.

Club Racers

Find the tenths you've been leaving on the table and arrive at race weekends already knowing where the time is.

Performance Car Owners

Learn how your car really behaves at the limit, in a controlled environment, with someone beside you who has seen it all.

Aspiring Professionals

The same coaching that has helped Le Mans winners and national champions on their way up.

Heritage

One of NZ motorsport's best-kept secrets.

Canterbury Motor Racing School was founded in 2000 by 1984 New Zealand Formula Ford Champion John Crawford and his wife Trish. With respected single-seater driver Andy Neale coaching alongside, the school quickly earned a reputation for helping newcomers unlock Ruapuna and easing young drivers from karts into cars.

Today the school is run by long-time instructor Chris Hyde. It remains based at Euromarque Motorsport Park, with a close working relationship with the circuit's owner, the Canterbury Car Club, and Chris now coaches at circuits right around the country.

2000School founded by John & Trish Crawford
RX-7 YearsCoaching laps in the school Mazda RX-7s become a Ruapuna rite of passage
TRS EraTatuus Formula Renault single-seaters added to the fleet
TodayRun by Chris Hyde, with the school Toyota 86 or your own car, at any NZ track

Drivers who've trained here

A selection of the names who have worked with our coaches on their way up.

  • Earl BamberTwo-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner
  • Daniel GauntTwo-time TRS Champion, NZGP winner
  • Hunter McElreaAustralian Formula Ford Champion
  • Andy KnightTRS Champion
  • Jack MilliganToyota 86 Champion
Earl Bamber on the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia podium Daniel Gaunt racing Hunter McElrea in his Formula Ford Andy Knight on the podium Jack Milligan racing
Head Coach

Chris Hyde

Son of respected Christchurch racer Avon Hyde, Chris has raced almost everything that turns a wheel at Ruapuna — karts, Formula Fords, Mazda RX-7s and the McRae GM1 Formula 5000 he drove to the 2008 NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival title.

More importantly, he has earned a reputation second to none as a driver coach. Through a mix of theory, practice and patience, he draws confidence — and lap time — out of drivers at every level.

2008 NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Champion Long-time CMRS instructor Ruapuna specialist Coaches nationwide
Where We Train

Based at Ruapuna. Happy to travel.

Our base is Euromarque Motorsport Park. Ruapuna is deceptively simple on paper; its wide hairpin, unforgiving kerbs and the technical complex reward precision and punish guesswork, which makes it one of the best classrooms in the country.

Racing elsewhere? Chris is more than happy to travel to other circuits around New Zealand to help you hone your skills, learn a new track before race weekend, and work on your lap time where you'll actually be competing.

Euromarque (Ruapuna)Hampton DownsTaupōManfeildHighlandsTeretongaLevels+ any NZ circuit
3.33kmGP circuit
2.45kmClub circuit
9Club circuit corners
AnyNZ track on request
Euromarque Motorsport Park (Ruapuna) circuit map
FAQ

Good to know.

Can't find what you're after? Get in touch and we'll talk it through.

When can I book a session?

Sessions are one-on-one and can be booked on most days the circuit isn't hosting another event. Get in touch with your preferred dates and Chris will confirm availability.

Is track hire included?

For Bring Your Own sessions, track hire is additional and paid to the circuit operator. Chris will confirm all costs upfront when you book, including for sessions at other tracks.

Can I bring my own car?

Yes. Bring Your Own programmes are approved case by case, as we need to confirm the vehicle with the Canterbury Car Club first. Tell us about your car in the enquiry form and we'll come back to you with a tailored proposal.

Can you coach me at another track?

Yes. Most sessions run at Euromarque Motorsport Park, but Chris is happy to travel to other circuits around New Zealand. It's a popular option ahead of a race weekend at an unfamiliar track. Tell us where and when, and we'll put a plan together.

Do I need racing experience?

No. We coach everyone from first-timers to championship-winning drivers. Every session is tailored to where you are now and where you want to get to.

What equipment is provided?

For the Advanced One-on-One, the school Toyota 86 is supplied. Chris will run through exactly what to bring when you book. For Bring Your Own sessions, your car will need to meet the circuit's requirements for track use.

I'm not based in Christchurch. Is it worth travelling?

Drivers regularly fly in from around New Zealand and overseas, and if it suits you better, Chris can come to you. Concentrated one-on-one time at a single circuit delivers progress that would otherwise take seasons, at a fraction of the cost of comparable coaching abroad.

Book

Let's find your lap time.

Tell us what you drive, what you've done and what you want to achieve. We'll come back to you with dates and a plan.

Opens your email app with your enquiry ready to send.