Starter Done, Now The Main Course For Bridgestone GR86 Championship

January and February are key months in the championship with four of the six rounds that form the championship being raced over the summer months. There’s Hampton Downs this weekend, Teretonga Park and the New Zealand Grand Prix in the South Island then Manfeild late February before the big April finale at Supercars, Taupo.

Arthur Broughan was the young gun who came away from the first round with the early series advantage, taking his two debut wins over the weekend and proving that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with over the coming – intense – championship rounds. Broughan has always gone well at the North Waikato circuit and will be hoping to be the benchmark once again this weekend.

The very nature of the Bridgestone GR86 Championship, however, means that will be a tough task. As ever, this year’s field are within tenths on the track covered in speed around a lap by mere tenths of a secondnd that means a good set up, a great lap, or even something as simple as a decent tow down one of Hamptoin Downs’ long straights could make the difference in qualifying, and that could set up any driver in the field for a weekend like Arthur had in October.

Zac Blincoe is probably best placed to be the next hot tip for Hampton Downs, after taking his first win in the championship in October. Quiet and well-liked in the paddock, Blincoe has plenty of speed and excellent race craft and is sure to be near the top of the timesheets and the leader board.

Josh Bethune, who was a late entry at Round 1 and without any recent testing form, could be the front runner this weekend too, as could long-time championship specialist Justin Allen. Reigning champion Hugo Allan is in the mix as well, competitive at Round 1 in October.

Watch out too for the 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series winner Lee Zeltwanger, who is quick and will only improve as the season progresses, Ajay Giddy – still the youngest driver in the field at just 14 – Cameron Hill, Harry Townshend and Christchurch racers Chris White and Mac Templeton who race for new team Neale Motorsport.

Making a one-round cameo appearance in the Right Karts By M2 Competition team is former series regular Thomas Mallard. He loves the Hampton Downs track and will no doubt be quickly into the groove.

2025-2026 Bridgestone GR86 Championship – Round 2 Hampton Downs entry

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.

© Scoop Media