Bucklands Beach racer Blincoe - 19 - was a star performer in the packed and highly competitive field last season, regularly being one of the pacesetters and indeed, on occasion, being the overall pacesetter.

A race win, however, eluded the youngster and in his second season he says he is determined to put that right. “My racing goals this season are to win the championship and get my first race and round win overall,” he explained.

“It was a bit frustrating last season to just miss out on a race win after having multiple opportunities slip away from us due to driver and car errors.

“However, now I have a lot more experience coming into this season, I think a race win is definitely on the cards. Overall though I am hoping for more – I have a goal to win the championship as well as getting my first race and round win.”

Zach puts a lot of the season one disappointments down to that lack of experience and knows that it is one thing to have the speed to win, but another to have the consistency to succeed in New Zealand’s most competitive one make one model championship.

“The first season gave me a great idea of what is needed in order to come out on top and that consistency is definitely key,” he added.

“I learned last season that when everything does not go as planned while racing that I must calm down and keep my head in the game and not get too flustered. This will be important to succeed this season, I’m in no doubt about that.”

Blincoe will be back with Mackenzie Motorsport for his second season and will fly the colours of Magness Benrow, Endless Metals NZ, Axial Appliance Servicing, Smiths Elements, Daniel Overton and Goulding Lawyers Pukekohe Branch, Embroidme East Tamaki and Ocean Plumbing when the season begins in November.

The six-round Bridgestone GR86 Championship begins at the end of October with the first round at Hampton Downs on the international layout. A break until the 9th–11th January is followed by a return to the North Waikato circuit, again on the long track.

The championship heads south two weeks later for the double header at Teretonga 23-25 January and the NZ Grand Prix meeting at Highlands the following weekend. At the end of February the penultimate round takes place at Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon before the big finale at the Taupo Supercars round in April.

2025-2026 Bridgestone GR86 Championship

Round 1 - 31 October - 2 November 2025, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park

Round 2 - 9 - 11 January 2026, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park

Round 3 - 23 - 25 January 2026, Teretonga Park, Invercargill

Round 4 - 30 January - 1 February 2026 70th New Zealand GP - Highlands Motorsport Park

Round 5 - 27 February - 1 March 2026, Manfeild - Circuit Chris Amon

Round 6 – 10-12 April 2026 - Taupo International Motorsport Park - Supercars

About the Repco NextGen NZ Championship

The Repco NextGen NZ Championship is Motorsport New Zealand’s premier Race Championship. It is focused on celebrating talent, developing drivers, captivating fans and being sustainable, successful and surprising.

The championship is headlined by the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, Bridgestone GR86 Championship, GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, Monochrome GT4 Australia Championship, Summerset GT New Zealand Championship, TA2 New Zealand Championship, New Zealand Porsche Championship, GTRNZ, NAPA Central Muscle Cars, the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship and Formula Atlantic.

The second season of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship will span six spectacular events from November 2025 through March 2026.

After the opener at Hampton Downs, the championship commences a four-event swing in January that includes back-to-back rounds at Hampton Downs, Taupo, Teretonga (Invercargill) and the 70th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park. The finale will be held at Manfeild, near Palmerston North.

Visit us:
http://www.toyota.co.nz/racing/
http://www.toyotagazooracing.co.nz

Home Page | Culture | Previous Story | Next Story

Copyright (c) Scoop Media