Manawatu Roading Contractor Honoured by MotorSport

Media Release

Thursday 26 May, 2011

Manawatu Roading Contractor Honoured by MotorSport

Leading roading contractor Pat Higgins has been made a Member d’Honneur of MotorSport New Zealand following decades of outstanding service to the sport in New Zealand and overseas.

The rarely bestowed honour, equivalent to a life membership, was presented by MotorSport New Zealand president Shayne Harris at the MotorSport Awards dinner in Wellington on Saturday night. Pat’s involvement with the sport started in the early 1970s with construction of the Manawatu Car Club’s circuit at Manfeild and developed into national roles in circuit safety.

Using his specialist skills and knowledge in road surfacing, he developed a special type of bitumen that significantly reduces the tail spray from race vehicles. First used at Manfeild, it was also installed at the famous Monza circuit in Italy, where Pat supervised its installation. Development of the compound has continued over the years and is now used at many circuits around the world.

In the mid-1990s, the FIA invited Pat to join its Circuits and Safety Commission as one of the few inspectors worldwide authorised to sign off international race circuits.

After more than ten years visiting circuits around the world, he stepped back to covering the Asia Pacific region; a role he still fulfils.

ENDS

© Scoop Media