Ignite Motorsport Club heads South as registrations open for December events

Registrations are now open for the next Ignite Motorsport Club events, with the popular youth motorsport programme heading to the South Island for the first time this December.

The Christchurch event will take place on Saturday 12 December in partnership with RATEC, followed by a Southland event on Sunday 13 December in partnership with the Eastern Southland Car Club.

Founded by Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon in partnership with MotorSport New Zealand, Ignite Motorsport Club is designed to give young people aged 12-20 a safe, accessible and exciting introduction to motorsport.

No previous motorsport experience is required, and all safety gear is provided. Participants are encouraged to bring a suitable vehicle if they have access to one, while a limited number of vehicles will also be available for those who don’t.

The programme is focused on making that first step into motorsport as easy as possible, with participants taking part in practical driving activities including motorkhana and autocross-style challenges, alongside coaching and guidance from experienced members of the motorsport community, including Paddon himself.

The expansion into the South Island comes during an exceptional year for Paddon, who has continued to demonstrate what is possible for New Zealand competitors on the international stage.

Since establishing Ignite Motorsport Club, Paddon has also made an impressive return to the FIA World Rally Championship, securing two podium finishes, including a stellar second-place result at Rally Paraguay.

MotorSport New Zealand President Deborah Day said the South Island events were another important step in growing the programme.

“Hayden’s vision for Ignite has been about making motorsport more accessible and giving young people a genuine opportunity to experience the sport for themselves,” Day said.

“The response to the first events has been fantastic, and we’re excited to now take Ignite to Christchurch and Southland with the support of RATEC and the Eastern Southland Car Club.
“We want to remove as many of the traditional barriers to getting started as possible. Providing the safety equipment and having some vehicles available means young people can come along and experience motorsport without already needing to be part of the sport.”

Paddon said bringing Ignite to more regions remained an important part of the programme’s long-term vision.

“Motorsport has given me some incredible opportunities, and Ignite is about helping make sure the next generation gets the chance to experience that same excitement,” Paddon said.

“You don’t need to come from a motorsport family or have years of experience. You can turn up, learn, have fun and experience motorsport in a safe and supportive environment.

“We’ve seen how much enthusiasm there is from young people wanting to give motorsport a go, so it’s great to be working with RATEC and the Eastern Southland Car Club to bring Ignite to the South Island.”

Places are limited, and families are encouraged to register early: ignitemotorsport.co.nz