Action Motorsport announce its official expansion into the Australian motorsport scene last week. The Team is gearing up to compete in the highly anticipated 2025 TGRA GR Cup Series.
This move marks a significant milestone for the New Zealand-based team, which continues to grow its presence and reputation across the Tasman. The journey began with the official GR Launch in Sydney yesterday before the season kicks off at the NTI Townsville 500 in July.
A clear vision drove the expansion: to build a Trans-Tasman motorsport program that develops top-tier drivers, maximizes the off-season between New Zealand and Australian series, and strengthens the viability of motorsport across both countries.
A Strong Driver Lineup Ready to Make an Impact:
Action Motorsport is entering the TGRA GR Cup with three highly rated Australian drivers—Cooper Barnes, Jett Murray, and Jack Westbury—who all recently competed in the 2024/25 NZ Toyota GR86 Championship.
Murray raced the full NZ season with Action Motorsport, Westbury joined for the final two rounds, and Barnes, while with another team in NZ, previously worked alongside Action Motorsport in Australia through his relationship with former teammate Summer Rintoule.
Each driver brings valuable experience and a strong connection to the team. They share close friendships and past racing history, creating a supportive yet competitive environment that is expected to translate into strong results on track.
Velocity News spoke exclusively to Shaun Hayes, owner of Action Motorsport and an industry veteran with over two decades of experience in automotive engineering and motorsport.
“All the boys know each other very well from past Motorsport championships and long-standing friendships. So I think a positive team environment will only breed positive results,” said Hayes
“We would also like to thank the drivers and their families for supporting us to take Action Motorsport overseas.”
Lessons from the Past, Plans for the Future:
Action Motorsport began to consider expanding into Australia after entering two rounds of the 2024 GR Cup with Summer Rintoule.
That experience ignited the desire to pursue a more permanent role in the Australian racing scene. With months of preparation, planning, and logistical coordination behind the scenes, the team now feels ready to make its full-season debut.
“We got a taste for it and saw a real opportunity,” said Hayes.
“We will take it one step at a time, but I want Action Motorsport to help contribute to making the next series of quality drivers.”
Team Engineer Phil Curtis will lead operations from the Gold Coast to support the team on the ground in Australia. Action Motorsport emphasizes a simplified, communication-first approach to ensure seamless collaboration between drivers, mechanics, and partners.
“Communication is 100% the main key,” said Hayes.
TGRA GR Cup: 5-Round Series with Supercars:
The 2025 TGRA GR Cup will feature five rounds as a support category to the Supercars Championship:
- Round 1: July 11–13 – NTI Townsville 500 (Queensland)
- Round 2: August 8–10 – Ipswich Super 440 (Queensland)
- Round 3: October 9–12 – Bathurst 1000 (New South Wales)
- Round 4: October 24–26 – Gold Coast 500 (Queensland)
- Round 5: November 14-16 – Sandown 500 (Victoria)
With all three drivers clocking valuable extra mileage in New Zealand over the summer, the team expects a competitive showing right out of the gate.
“They’ve done the work; that preparation is priceless in the modern game.” Hayes said
Balancing Growth in Two Countries:
Despite the Australian expansion, Action Motorsport remains committed to its home base in New Zealand. The team will be busy over the NZ winter, running three cars in the TR86 Trophy Series and four to five cars across 2025 NIERDC and SIERDC championships.
“It’s definitely busy, but we’ve been planning this for over six months,” Hayes noted.
“With the right people and preparation, it’s completely achievable.”
Notably, the staggered racing calendars between Australia and New Zealand allow Action Motorsport to compete in both regions without conflict—opening the door for year-round development of both drivers and staff.
Eyes on the Horizon:
While focused on delivering a strong GR Cup season, the long-term vision remains centered on continued growth and development. The team is looking to strengthen its GTNZ customer base and build a stepping-stone pathway for drivers—from BMW to TR86, to GR Cup, to Michelin Sprint and beyond.
“We will take it one step at a time in Australia and do a good job that will speak for itself in terms of growth,” said Hayes.
“We have such great driving talent in NZ, and we need to keep the momentum going and give these young men and women opportunities to achieve their goals.
“This move into Australia is one way to do that.”
Fan Connection and Content:
Fans can follow Action Motorsport’s journey across both countries on Instagram and Facebook, where the team and drivers will share behind-the-scenes content, updates, and highlights from the season.
“We’re aiming to produce more engaging content, and the drivers are keen to be part of that.
“We want fans to feel like they’re right there with us,” said Hayes
About Action Motorsport:
Action Motorsport is a New Zealand-based racing team focused on elite driver development, competitive racing, and creating career pathways through national and international motorsport series. With a growing footprint across Australasia, the team continues to push boundaries and develop future champions.
