Big field heads south for 2024 Otago Rally
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
2d ago
A quality field of 117 cars – the biggest field in four years – will start this year’s Central Machine Hire Otago Rally, to be based in Dunedin from April 12 to 14. The popular event is New Zealand’s traditional start to the rally season and once again qualifies as round one of the Asia-Pacific (APRC) and New Zealand Rally Championships. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the absence of 10-time Otago Rally winner Hayden Paddon, who is expected to announce his 2024 plans very shortly. However, his place will be taken by the super-quick Indian driver, Gaurav Gill. The three-time Asia-Pacific Rally ..read more
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Paddon and Kennard excited for ERC title defence
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
2d ago
New Zealand’s most successful rally competitors, Hayden Paddon and John Kennard, have confirmed they will contest the 2024 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) in a bid to defend their ERC title which they won on their first attempt last year. Paddon knows he has a challenge ahead of him during the eight European rallies where he’ll be maintaining his long connection with Hyundai New Zealand, again driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car. “We’ve been working to confirm our return to the European Rally Championship over the New Zealand summer and I’m very pleased, that with the support of BRC Raci ..read more
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Tight fight for lead of North Island Formula Ford Series after Dowdall wins Hampton Downs round
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
2d ago
A three-way battle is looming for the overall 2023/24 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series title after the fourth round was held at the Legends of Speed meeting at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the weekend. Sitting third placed heading into the round, a win and two third placings has seen Blake Dowdall jump into the lead, a narrow one-point ahead of Dylan Grant (Van Diemen RF03) with Zach Blinco four-points further back. With two rounds remaining, the series has a real fight on its hands. “I’m stoked about it,” commented Dowdall. “Luck went our way this weekend. It was a little ..read more
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Ferrari Driver Academy – Asia Pacific Selection 2024
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jakob Annison
2d ago
The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) – Asia Pacific and Oceania regional selection program is back for 2024! Held on 15-19 September 2024 at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, drivers aged 14-17 are invited to apply for the selection program. This program aims to find the best young talent in our region and have them compete in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy Finals in Italy for a place in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. Drivers will be trained and tested in the latest Top Speed prepared Tatuus Formula 4 Generation 2 car on the famous Sepang circuit, in front of the Scuderia Ferrari ..read more
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Louis Sharp all set for GB3 debut over Easter weekend
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
2d ago
Talented teenager Louis Sharp is primed to take the next step towards his dreams of being a future Formula 1 driver when the 2024 GB3 Championship kicks off at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend (30 March – 01 April). Widely acclaimed as one of the sport’s hottest young prospects, the 16-year-old New Zealander graduates to the UK’s premier single-seater series on a high having won last year’s ROKiT F4 British Championship – a prized title previously secured by Lando Norris on his own way to Grand Prix stardom. Fuelling his ambitions, Sharp again will be competing for Rodin Motorsport, the tea ..read more
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Evans maintains Supercars rookie lead after tough Grand Prix weekend
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
4d ago
There were positive signs for Jaxon Evans following a tough MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint supporting the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. The New Zealander’s pace was strong in opening practice where Evans placed the SCT Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in fifth, but from then on the weekend proved a challenge as he and his Brad Jones Racing team-mates struggled for qualifying pace. Race 3 of the season capped off a busy Thursday where contact from another competitor tipped Evans into a spin at the final corner, causing damage to the rear. Evans continued and was able ..read more
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Matt Penrose claims 2024 NZ Gold Star Hillclimb Championship
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
4d ago
Christchurch’s Matt Penrose has claimed the 2024 NZ Gold Star Hillclimb Championship after dominating both days of competition in Stratford. Hosted by the South Taranaki Car Club with the support of Dign4u Ltd, the 2024 edition of the popular championship saw competitors tested on a sealed surface on Saturday before moving to gravel on Sunday. Penrose, piloting a Semog Cross Car, was just under four-seconds faster than his closest rival on Saturday’s Mangaotuku Road leg. Sunday’s Junction Road leg, made famous during the Motogaurd Rally in the late 1970s, was an even more dominant affair for P ..read more
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North Island Formula Ford Series back in action this weekend at Legends of Speed event
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
1w ago
The closely fought 2023/24 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series resumes this weekend with Round 4 taking place at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Dylan Grant holds a narrow five-point lead over rival Zach Blincoe with qualifying and three races over Saturday and Sunday. While it has been three months since the last round in December 2023, many of the drivers have since been in action in the South Island at the opening two rounds of the highly competitive 2024 NZ Formula Ford Championship title fight. Grant (Van Diemen RF03) heads into the round as favourite, not only leading the c ..read more
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Jaxon Evans keen to tackle new Albert Park layout
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
1w ago
Jaxon Evans will experience the new Albert Park layout for the first time when he enters the track for opening practice for Round 2 of the Repco Supercars Championship tomorrow morning (Thursday). Following a dramatic solo Repco Supercars Championship debut event at the Thrifty Bathurst 500 where a foot injury plagued him on Sunday, Evans displayed competitive pace, despite the ailment. Now with his foot injury recovered, Evans returns to Albert Park for the first time since 2018 in his championship-winning Porsche Carrera Cup Australia campaign where he won the final race and round of the wee ..read more
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Race and round win for Alex Fougere in V8 Utes
MotorSport New Zealand Blog
by Jordie
1w ago
In a weekend which saw Kyan Davie, Brad Kroef then Alex Fougere win one race apiece, ultimately Alex Fougere emerged the round winner after some of the closest racing all season for the V8 Utes at Hampton Downs. How close? Saturday morning’s qualifying saw lap times across 1st to 12th barely 2 seconds apart setting the scene for some intense racing. Sunday’s action began with a reverse grid Race Two for the V8 Utes competing with the Albany ITM Super V8s. With the TA2s & Open V8s up ahead but ominous grey skies overhead, Jeremy Hunt and Bruce McRae lead the field of V8 Utes with ten feisty ..read more
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