Back-to-back Sunday wins seal GR86 title for Hugo Allan

The final race of a spectacular inaugural Toyota GR86 Championship didn’t have the intensity of some of the previous 15 races, but that was fine by new champion Hugo Allan, who took his second win of the morning to cruise to the title in his CareVets Racing entry.

It was a special moment for Allan, who burst onto the Toyota 86 scene several seasons ago with a fine performance at the same track. Budget constraints had prevented him from mounting serious challenges in previous seasons, but this year, with sponsors Kiwitarp and CareVets behind him, he has been a force to be reckoned with in what was only his second full season of motorsport.

“I’m blown away to be honest,” he said afterwards. “I can’t thank my boys enough. They gave me a strong car all season and I cannot thank Kiwitarp and CareVets enough for giving me the opportunity to get back in a car and be in the championship in the first place.

“I think people forget that this is only the second full season of motor racing I have been able to complete and to go up against all of these boys – many of whom have a lot of experience and skill and be able to beat them and get some consistent results has been an amazing experience.

“We always had pace here but I didn’t quite get qualifying right. The reverse grid worked in our favour today for once and I was able to move forward, go fast and grab pole position for this race. We’ve always worked on having a good race car and it paid off today.”

The grid for the final race of the championship was formed by the fastest laps from the first two races and it was Allan who had clocked the best combination to start from pole position. Alongside him was the youngest driver in the field – and one who has shown prodigious speed at Taupo throughout the Supercars weekend, Ajay Giddy. Josh Bethune – for whom only a win would do – lined up fifth.

Allan led away from pole with fourteen-year-old Giddy in hot pursuit, followed by Allen and Blincoe. Bethune was in sixth behind Jett Murray. With two laps gone Allan had built a lead of over half a second on Ajay and was in control of the race – and the championship.

Behind him a nice battle for second, third and fourth developed in the second half of the race and it was eventually resolved in favour of young Giddy, who scored his best result of the season to hold off Justin Allen for second. Blincoe was fourth, Bethune a fighting fifth, rookie champion Chris White Jr. sixth, Hayden Bakkerus a brave seventh, Mason Potter eighth, Arthur Broughan ninth and Cooper Barnes tenth.

Allan will now step up to the New Zealand GT Championship for a season in a GR Supra GT4 EVO2 – courtesy of a whopping $50,000 to go towards the budget with RaceLab.

Bethune – first to congratulate Allan after the race – wins a $15,000 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing credit, and Justin Allen a $10,000 dollar credit for third overall. Rookie winner Chris White will head to the GR CUP in Australia to compete in the Bathurst round in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia guest car and for the Master’s class champion Simon Hunter there’s the slightly more relaxing prospect of a VIP trip for two to the 2026 Australian GP in Melbourne to see TGR Australia’s entry into the Supercars Championship.

2024-2025 Toyota GR86 Championship Final Series Points:

Header Image: Supplied