Sprague not complacent as Mazda Pro8 New Zealand has penultimate round in Timaru this weekend

Mazda Pro8 New Zealand leader Corban Sprague is not being complacent as the 2025/26 series has its penultimate round at the ever-popular Thunder Down Under meeting in Timaru this weekend. Local knowledge won’t necessarily be an advantage in such a competitive field at the Timaru International Raceway as he is set to defend his 108-point lead to last season’s champion Jared Pyke, with third placed Hamish Evans still in the hunt.

“Hopefully we can go out and continue our form and take out the round. That will be the ultimate goal,” said Sprague. “Super pleased with the lead so far. It’s not massive and it doesn’t take much for something to go wrong. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. It will be about going out and enjoying ourselves and obviously race wins will be awesome.”

Pyke has been able to keep in touch with eight podiums, including one race win and is not giving up on the title fight saying, “I’m really happy with the consistency we’re showing and the pace to stay right in the fight at the front.”

Kaleb Pateman holds a handy fourth overall and is yet to stand on the podium. He has a narrow 24-point gap back to fifth overall rookie Ryan Gallagher.

The four, eight-lap race weekend gets underway with qualifying first thing on Saturday morning with Race 1 before lunch followed by a marble-draw grid Race 2 in the afternoon. Sunday morning sees a reserve-marble-draw Race 3 in the morning with a Round Points grid Race 4 in the afternoon.

“The competition has been raised this season, so we have to be on top of the game as everyone knows what they are doing,” said Sprague.

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