Blenheim driver Arthur Broughan enters his second season in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship determined to race his way to the front of the pack.

The Marlborough Boys College student will remain with Mackenzie Motorsport for his second season in New Zealand’s top one make one model championship and says the big learning curve all rookies go through in their first season will stand him in good stead for a title challenge.

“My rookie season was full of ups and downs,” he explained.

“It was a big learning curve but for this season we’re going to put our best foot forward and aim for the top three overall in the championship and to win races.

“It’s always going to be tricky to win races because the whole field is very close and competitive but I have learned a lot about the data side of things, race craft and also working within a big team. You learn to be mentally tough and you learn a lot about wheel to wheel racing.

“I’m going to be in good shape to put that all into practice when the season begins.”

Arthur has also been preparing off the track for the season ahead and was selected as one of the country’s hottest prospects for New Zealand’s Elite Motorsport Academy.

He’s attracted support from PAK'n SAVE, Liquid Action, Ute Nation, Upright Scaffolding, Water Supply Products, Mag n Turbo Blenheim and Active Electrical Blenheim for his title challenge, which will begin 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.

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