Top competition in Mazda Pro8 round at Teretonga Park

Corban Sprague of Timaru has emerged as the Mazda Pro8 New Zealand round winner with two of the four race victories to top the weekend podium ahead of local Jeremy Dawson of Invercargill and Jared Pyke of Rolleston. Dawson’s brother Bradley won one of the races and Pyke the other, the latter retaining his overall points lead after the second round at Teretonga Park in Invercargill

“Really pleased with the weekend,” commented Sprague. “After an average opening round in Christchurch with a couple of retirements, we have now been able to show our speed. Very happy with the reliability as Dad has spent hours working on the car over the off-season.”

Pyke went into the round with a 42-point lead over rookie Hamish Evans with Kris Mackie and Cory Stewart also in striking distance. After four races Pyke has been able to extend his lead, now 144-points back to Bradley Dawson who is just three-points ahead of rookie driver Hamish Evans.

“Saturday didn’t go to well for us,” said Pyke who finished seventh in the opening race. “We ran some older tyres so didn’t have the pace in race one.”

Meanwhile Sprague who was fastest qualifier, got a clean start and pulled a gap on the field with Hamish Evans second ahead of Jeremy Dawson.

For the marble draw Race 2 (grid positions determined by each driver drawing a numbered marble) both Sprague and Pyke started from the rear of the grid

“Traffic is one of my strengths and with some decent tyres bolted on the car, I was able to go from 14th to fourth within a couple of laps,” said Pyke who finished third, ahead of Sprague and behind second placed Jeremy Dawson and winner Bradley Dawson.

Both Sprague and Pyke started at the front of the grid for the Reverse Marble Draw Race 3 on Sunday morning.

“Again, I got a good start, and with the others battling behind me it was a matter of managing the gap” said race winner Sprague.

The final Race 4 with grid positions determined by points scored over the round saw Sprague on pole.

“I got a good start but unfortunately on the third lap I lost fifth gear,” said Sprague who finished in second ahead of Bradley Dawson. “Jared (Pyke) managed to get passed on lap four, so it was about managing to get home and score points.”

“Happy with the win,” said Pyke. “It has been a really good weekend as it has been the most competitive round that I have raced in. The competition is so tight. Corban (Sprague) has been so fast and outclassed us in this round.”

Drivers and teams now take a break over the festive season returning for round three at the Thunder Downunder meeting at the Timaru International Raceway, Timaru, 25-26 January 2025.

The Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series acknowledges the support from Kumho Tyres, Disc Brakes Australia, HM Auto Electrical, Silvester v8 Performance, Transform Graphics.

The season also sees a continuation of the Trans-Tasman partnership between the Mazda Pro8 New Zealand and Australia’s RX8 Cup.