Every hill counts: New Zealand Hillclimb Championship launches for 2027

A new national Championship turns every MotorSport New Zealand-permitted Hillclimb into a points-scoring round, building to a live-streamed Grand Final where the New Zealand Hillclimb Champions will be crowned.

MotorSport New Zealand has today announced the New Zealand Hillclimb Championship, a nationwide series that will run from the 2027 season.

From 2027, every MotorSport New Zealand-permitted Hillclimb in the country will automatically count as a Championship round. Competitors earn points at the events they choose to enter, so they can build a national title campaign at hills close to home without needing to travel the length of the country.

The Championship builds across the season in three tiers:

• Standard Rounds: every permitted Hillclimb across New Zealand
• Super Rounds: four premier events, two in the North Island and two in the South Island, carrying double points
• Grand Final: a standalone season showdown on tarmac, live streamed, where the New Zealand Hillclimb Champions are crowned

How the points work

Points are awarded within each class at every round, from 25 points for a class win down to 3 points for 20th place. Those points are then multiplied by the tier of the event:

• Standard Rounds (1× points): a competitor’s best four results count
• Super Rounds (2× points): a competitor’s single best result counts. There are four Super Rounds, one tarmac and one gravel event in each island
• Grand Final (5× points): the result counts in full, and decides the New Zealand Hillclimb Champions

Because only a competitor’s best results count, they can build a campaign around events close to home rather than chasing every round, and the title can’t be won simply by entering the most events. MotorSport New Zealand will publish the standings on its website and email competitors after every round.

Competitors are scored in seven classes: four two-wheel-drive classes by engine capacity (up to 1300cc, 1301cc to 1600cc, 1601cc to 2000cc, and over 2000cc), a four-wheel-drive class, a CrossCar class, and a Classic class for vehicles more than 30 years old. 

Qualifying for the Grand Final

Grand Final places are decided by the Championship standings six weeks before the event. The top competitors in each class qualify, with a field of at least 50 cars shared equally between the classes. Qualifiers have seven days to confirm their entry, and any place not confirmed passes to the next competitor in that class.

“Hillclimbing is one of the most accessible forms of motorsport in New Zealand, and it happens in almost every corner of the country,” said Deborah Day, President of MotorSport New Zealand.

“This Championship gives every one of those events a part in something bigger. Whether you run a road car at your local club hillclimb or a purpose-built special, your result now counts towards a national title.”

The new format has been developed by MotorSport New Zealand together with its ClubSport Advisory Commission.

“Clubs put an enormous amount of work into their Hillclimb’s, and this Championship makes every one of those events mean something more,” said Donna Elder, Chair of the ClubSport Advisory Commission.

“When every result counts towards a national title, there’s a real reason to enter your local hill, and the one down the road. We expect that to bring more cars and bigger fields to club Hillclimb right across the country.”

Clubs will run their events as they do now. The Championship sits over the top of the existing calendar, with MotorSport New Zealand collecting results and maintaining national points standings throughout the season.

Clubs are currently being invited to express interest in hosting one of the four Super Rounds or the inaugural Grand Final. Host clubs will receive dedicated support from MotorSport New Zealand, including help with officials, event equipment and Championship branding, promotion across national channels, entrant communications and a financial contribution towards running costs.

The full Championship articles will be published ahead of the 2027 season. Competitors and fans can find out more at https://motorsport.org.nz/championships/hillclimb/