WELLINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's A1GP driver Jonny Reid and a Boeing 777 shared the honours after two races in Tuesday morning's ultimate quest for speed race at Auckland International Airport.

    The races were to promote the arrival of 21 nations for the A1GP Taupo on Jan. 20. New Zealand is currently third in the standings.

    The Air New Zealand Boeing 777 took advantage of a size handicap and local knowledge of the tarmac to pip Reid's Black Beauty in the first race.

    The Boeing eventually reached a take-off of just under 270 km p/h, with Reid's Black Beauty reaching nearly 300 km p/h, racing past the Boeing just as it left the tarmac and took to the sky.

    But the A1 supremo struck back to take the chequered flag in race two.

    The Boeing 777 had no passengers or freight and minimal fuel, and the big challenge was keeping it on the ground long enough to complete the race.

    A1 Team NZL said it approached Auckland Airport about the promotion six months ago and Air New Zealand had joined after safety and environmental concerns were allayed.

    Airport chief executive Don Huse said the airport never closed but for the first time in its 42-year history the schedule had been adjusted to squeeze in the race.