The circuit's distinctive name is a portmanteau of "Manawatu," the region in which it sits, and "Feilding," the nearby town. Originally called Manfeild Autocourse when it opened in 1973, the venue was renamed Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon on 25 November 2016, recognising Chris Amon's status as one of New Zealand's most celebrated Formula One drivers.
The original 3.030 km circuit was constructed by the Manawatu Car Club Incorporated, with the first event held in 1973. The circuit was designed as a purpose-built facility from the outset, featuring workshop garages, hospitality suites, toilet blocks, and sealed access roads throughout the pit paddock area.
In 1990 the Car Club pursued a significant expansion programme, acquiring additional land and extending the track to full international standards. This additional land also now accommodates Agricultural and Pastoral Shows.
In October 2004, three landowners — Manawatu District Council, the Feilding IA&P (Agricultural and Pastoral Society), and the Manawatu Car Club — merged their respective land interests to create the Manfeild Park Trust, which has governed the facility since.
The main competition circuit measures 3.030 km and is the only section used for car racing, including the New Zealand Grand Prix, which is contested in a clockwise direction. The FIA track licence applies exclusively to this 3.030 km clockwise configuration for cars; motorcycles may race anticlockwise with steward approval and can also use the full extended layout.
The full circuit extends to 4.511 km, making it the longest race circuit in New Zealand when in use, though this configuration is rarely employed. It incorporates three long straights and offers numerous overtaking opportunities. A 1.500 km back circuit is also available for club meetings and driver training.
Manfeild has been the most frequent venue for the New Zealand Grand Prix in the modern era, hosting the race on seventeen occasions across 1992 to 1995 and 2008 to 2020. The event is not run over the full 4.511 km circuit; the Grand Prix uses only the main 3.030 km configuration.
The official outright lap record for the main 3.030 km circuit belongs to Simon Wills, who broke the previous mark set by Graeme Lawrence in a F5000 Lola T332 in 1975. An anticlockwise record of 1:00.81 was set by Greg Murphy in a Formula Holden Reynard 92D in 1995, reflecting the era when the circuit was run in that direction.
Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon stands as the modern heartland of New Zealand's premier single-seater racing. Its repeated hosting of the New Zealand Grand Prix, combined with the Toyota Racing Series and other national championships, has made it the country's most active venue for top-tier open-wheel competition. The renaming in honour of Chris Amon in 2016 cemented the circuit's place in the national motorsport story.