Giddy takes the title in Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series

Ajay Giddy of Silverdale, north of Auckland, is the 2025/2026 Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series champion after an epic battle throughout the season.

The fourteen-year-old clinched the title at Taupō International Motorsport Park on Sunday after a tense weekend of racing in which he claimed two wins and a third while his two main series rivals, Stu Lawton of Paraparaumu and Callum Pratt of Auckland both encountered their share of problems. Giddy ended the series with 637 points with Pratt the runner-up on 616 points and Lawton third with 589.

In addition to taking the series title, Giddy won the round, his third of the season, and was top rookie for the weekend while Simon Baker of Kapiti was second overall and top Masters (Over 50) competitor while Pratt was third overall.

Giddy and Lawton arrived at the final round equal on points and were side by side on the front row of the grid for Saturday afternoon’s opening race of the round. Pratt was right in the title hunt too, but a technical issue saw him consigned to the back of the grid for the opening contest.

Giddy won the opener from James Black of Dunedin and Sam Dashfield of Auckland while Lawton was fifth after a brief off-track excursion. Pratt came from the rear of the field to place eighth, setting up a great contest on the final day of the series.

The top ten from Saturday’s race were reversed on the grid for Sunday morning’s race and Pratt from third on the grid led all the way to cross the line in front of Baker and Black. Baker and Black both received penalties from the race, Baker retaining second but Black dropped down the order, handing third to Giddy. Lawton suffered mechanical issues and struggled home one lap down at the rear of the field.

The final race over ten laps on Sunday afternoon would therefore decide the series with Giddy and Pratt now the main contenders with Giddy on pole and Pratt fourth on the grid.

Giddy led all the way to seal the title with Baker second and Pratt third. Jesse Gould of Raumati Beach, Alex Canty of Auckland and Mac Berkett of Nelson completed the top six with Tomas Climo of Hamilton next and Lawton eighth.

Phil Clemas of Auckland, leader of the Masters (Over 50) title coming into this event failed to finish the race with the Masters Title going to Baker from Clemas and Steve Brown of Auckland. As well as his overall title Giddy also took the series rookie title from Black and Climo while he was also the top runner at the North Island rounds of the series and Lawton scored best in the South Island. Two and a Half Drivers (Black, Pratt and Bryan Walker of Christchurch) took the Teams Championship.