Round win for Sprague in Mazda Pro8 NZ Series at Highlands

Timaru’s Corban Sprague has won the R&R Hiab Services second round of the 2025/26 Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series held at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell on Saturday. Two race wins and fastest qualifier has helped increase the teenager’s overall lead to 54-points over second placed Jared Pyke. Also twice on the winner’s rostrum was Ben McConochie who has moved from ninth to fourth overall behind Hamish Evans in third.

“I’m pretty happy with that,” commented Sprague. “The first race was pretty busy, but we came away with a couple of wins and staying ahead on the overall points table.”

Four races make up each round with qualifying determining the grid for Race 1, a marble draw for Race 2, the reverse of the marble draw for the Race 3 grid and the grid for the final Race four determined by points gained over the preceding three races.

Despite crossing the opening race finish line in first and second positions, Jared Pyke and Corban Sprague were each penalised five-seconds after both exceeded track limits during the race. Ben Mcconochie, who started from third benefitted by taking the win with Pyke second, Sprague third and Evans fourth.

“I had an average start off the line and lost the lead,” said Sprague. “I had a good fight with Jared, tried a couple of moves but just couldn’t get by. The time penalty (exceeding track limits) meant I finished in third.”

Mcconochie took his second win in the marble-draw Race 2 after starting from grid 2 ahead of Ryan Gallagher with Sprague having worked his way up from grid 14 into third ahead of Pyke and Jeremy Dawson in fifth.

In the reverse marble-draw Race 3, Sprague got his first win of the round beating Pyke, Evans and Bradley Dawson.

“Again, I got an average start on grid 2, something I need to work on,” said Sprague. “Once I got passed Bradly (Dawson) I worked on putting in consistent laps and was happy to take the win.”

The final 10-lap Race 4 saw Sprague lead from lights-to-flag while Pyke and Mcconochie entertained the crowd fighting for second and third. Fourth home was Ryan Gallagher who claimed the Rookie of the Round award and voted Star of the Round.

Drivers and teams have two weeks before the third round at Teretonga Park in Invercargill.

The Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series acknowledges the support from Kumho Tyres, Disc Brakes Australia, HM Auto Electrical, Silvester V8 Performance, Sign Base.