Five round championship plus Supercars weekend for GR86 season

GAZOO Racing New Zealand has revealed details of its 2026-2027 Bridgestone GR86 Championship, and the five round season looks set to be another highly competitive one bristling with the sport’s top young NZ talent.

Five championship weekends will be bookmarked with a sixth non-championship round supporting Supercars.

That date and venue is still to be confirmed but before that, the best young drivers in New Zealand can look forward to a high-profile summer.

It will start at Taupo in November before the usual break for Christmas and then resume at Hampton Downs International circuit in January. Teretonga and Highlands – for the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend – follow in quick succession as the championship provides the principal support act for three rounds of the Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy.

The big final weekend will be played out around the classic Hampton Downs National layout at the end of February – the scene of countless memorable battles over the years.

Registrations are now open for the third season using the GR86 model, which in turn is the 14th season for the Toyota-86 based series as New Zealand’s premier ‘tin top’ racing class.

The main championship and the Supercars weekend will have separate prize pools, but drivers can look forward to career-changing opportunities if they do well.

“The championship has produced more than its fair share of outstanding driver talent,” said Category Manager Amanda Kibble. “That list of talent includes the likes of rising Supercars star and GR ambassador Ryan Wood and drivers of the calibre of Callum Hedge, Brock Gilchrist, Marco Giltrap, Ryan Yardley and many others.

“As ever we are planning a major prize pool that will provide opportunities for the best of the drivers competing to further their careers.”

The Championship will once again run as part of the flagship NextGen Championship Series, which features all of the country’s top motorsport categories. Drivers can register here: Register here for the 2026-27 Bridgestone GR86 Championship