Ticket sales for the first-ever A1GP World Cup of Motorsport meeting in Taupo between January 18-21, 2007 are off to a rollicking start.

The tickets went on sale via Ticketek outlets on Thursday at 9am, but already hundreds of Kiwi motorsport fans had purchased seats through the official A1 GP website.

The tickets direct from A1GP only went on sale on Wednesday without any fanfare, but already more than $200,000 worth of sales had been generated.

A1 Team.NZL corporate affairs director Bob McMurray said the initial rush has taken A1GP officials by surprise… but not the New Zealand organisers.

"We're told that the tickets are the second-fastest selling in A1GP's short history, only behind this season's first round in the Netherlands where they generated a crowd of more than one hundred thousand," said McMurray. "We always knew there was tremendous interest in the Taupo round and expected a strong start to sales. At this early stage, our only worry is having enough seats to satisfy demand."

The stands will accommodate 25,000 spectators with room for up to 3,000 on grass embankments. Corporate hospitality will account for a further 5,000, bringing the crowd total to 33,000.

Thursday will be a free day for spectators and ticket prices for the remaining three days range from $295 for the best grandstand seats to $90 for General Admission.

The overwhelming majority of tickets have been purchased by New Zealanders, but tickets have also been purchased in Australia and the United Kingdom.