New faces join Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series at Timaru

Five North Island competitors and some new faces have added considerable interest to Round 2 of the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series South Island Championship at Levels Raceway in Timaru this weekend.

Prebbleton driver Chris White Junior leads the series after the opening round at the same venue in November. He has since travelled north for the first two rounds of the North Island Championship which he also leads.

Christchurch driver Matt Dodd proved the closest challenger to White Jnr at the series opener while young Timaru driver Will Kitching made a fine debut in the series to place third overall. Dalan Price of Swannanoa in Canterbury holds fourth in the points after Round 1.

The stakes will be higher this weekend with two exciting youngsters from kartsport joining the grid. Arthur Broughan of Tuamarina near Blenheim, a two-time NZ Schools Champion and a South Island Champion, who has competed internationally in the FIA Academy in Europe and in the final round of the Australian Karting Championship will be contesting his first ever race in a saloon car while another youngster, Mac Templeton from Prebbleton, who won the Rotax DVS Junior title at the 2023 National Schools Championships is another newcomer.

Andy French of Rolleston who entered Round 1 but was forced to withdraw after sustaining damage in testing will also line up.

From the North Island come experienced Aucklanders, Elton Wichman, Steven Spear and Ant Tork while two others in Series 1 Mazda RX7’s will add to the spectacle. David Ferguson of Karamu near Hastings and Aaron Clyde of Wellington have joined the grid by invitation in their RX7’s which feature Group C spoiler kits and Series 1 running gear.

Testing for the event takes place on Friday while the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series competitors will have a 15-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning followed by their first race, a 10-lap contest, that afternoon.

Sunday morning features a 12-lap race with a reverse top ten grid from the previous days finishing order with the third and final race a 10-lapper with a grid based on points scored to that point of the weekend.

Those that cannot be at Timaru for the round can follow the action with livestreaming of all the action on both days at the Mazda Racing Series facebook page.