Summerset GT New Zealand Championship to kick off at Taupō with new cars & new drivers

The Summerset GT New Zealand Championship begin its five round season this weekend with the first round at Taupo International Motorsport Park.

A Seventeen-car field will line up across two classes with four manufacturers represented with cars from McLaren, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and newcomer Toyota.

In the Open Class, the field is largely ruled by Porsche entries with a number of new 992 Cup Cars entered.

Open Class Champion from 2023/24 Rick Armstrong returns to defend his title out of the International Motorsport team. Joining Armstrong in the International team are a large contingent of Porsches.

Runner up last season, and Porsche Endurance Trophy winner Sam Fillmore returns in a new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car. Luke Manson returns this season in another Porsche, as too does Paul Southam.

Father and son duo Glenn and Sam Cotterill step up from GT4 and will field two striking Rodd & Gun Sponsored 992’s, which rounds out the six car International Motorsport assault.

Returning to the Championship is Christchurch based racer Paul Kelly who will field his own Porsche 992. Also making the journey north from the South Island is Steve Brooks also in a Porsche 992.

Fresh from his Porsche Carrera Cup campaign in Australia, 2022/23 Season Champion Marco Giltrap also makes a return, he too in a Porsche 992.

With previous generation Porsche’s also eligible, Shaun Varney will campaign a 991.2 Cup Car, as too will former Toyota 86 front runner Hunter Robb.

Taking it to the large field of Porsche machines and contenders for podiums and wins will be two Mercedes AMG GT2’s in the hands of Joel Giddy and Paul Pedersen.

Also look for the IRC GT machine of Danny Stutterd which makes its Championship debut this weekend.

In the GT4 class, 20-year old William Exton will pilot the Giltrap Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 having been chosen as the recipient for the Giltrap Motorsport Junior scholarship.

GT4 runner up from last season James Sax returns in his Mercedes AMG-GT4.

Also look for a striking Toyota Supra GT4 EVO in the hands of Allan Sargeant who steps out of his previously campaigned Ginetta.

The championship will see two 30-minute races and a single 1-hour feature race held over the weekend,

The 2024/25 Summerset GT New Zealand Championship will consist of a five-round series over five months commencing this weekend at Taupo International Motorsport Park before finishing at Hampton Downs in March.