• Latest
  • Trending

Built in 14 days: Beuvink set for racing return after fiery Pukekohe crash

December 28, 2020

Another exciting season of motorsport at Teretonga Park

September 18, 2025

Toby McCormack returns for another season in NZ Formula Ford

September 18, 2025

Zeltwanger looking to maintain blistering winter form

September 17, 2025

Palmer the one to beat heading to Rally Waitomo this weekend

September 17, 2025

TRS and Formula Pacific cars running under exciting new format for 2025/26 season

September 17, 2025

Nick Cassidy to race with Citroën in Formula E while balancing WEC drive with Peugeot

September 17, 2025

Cormac Buchanan battles through tough Misano weekend in Moto3 rookie season

September 16, 2025

Ryan Yardley and David Musial Jr. claim victory in Porsche Endurance Challenge at Road Atlanta

September 15, 2025

Tough weekend at the Bend for Giltrap and Osborne in Porsche Carrera Cup

September 15, 2025

Scott McLaughlin secures historic podium for JMR at Suzuka 1000km

September 15, 2025

Kiwis – Born to Fly 3. First trailer drops and final phases of shooting commence.

September 15, 2025
Thursday, September 18, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Built in 14 days: Beuvink set for racing return after fiery Pukekohe crash

by Zane Shackleton
December 28, 2020
in Mazda Racing Series, New Zealand, News
0

Two weeks after his fiery crash in round two of the Mazda Racing Series at Pukekohe Park, Roger Beuvink is now ready to return to the track with a newly built race car.

Beuvink walked away unharmed from a violent crash along Pukekohe’s main straight earlier in the month.

After careening into the concrete barrier headfirst at full-speed, last season’s RX-8 Cup champion saw his car catch into flames as the engine was bulldozed into the main body of the car.

The accident unsettled Beuvink, and it took a few hours before he mustered up the courage to assess the damage.

“After hitting the wall, the first thing I thought was how lucky I am to get over the crash,” Beuvink told Velocity News.

“Then the thing caught fire and I thought ‘Now I have to get out of here quickly’.

“Once getting back to the pits, I had no idea what the car looked like. They had taken it away to the other side of the pitlane, and it was like one or two hours before I even went to look at it.

“Immediately, I could see it was badly damaged. The floor had ripples in it and the fire had ruined a lot of the car.

“I was ready to throw a tarp over it and leave it in the garage for the rest of the year. It really looked like the end of my season.”

However, while Beuvink mulled over the car’s future, a rebuild strategy championed by fellow drivers Leo Bult and Elton Wichman was already being drafted.

The two had chalked out a plan to have Beuvink’s marred car on a trailer by that same evening with a donor car to be prepped for stripping the following day.

“When Leo and Elton rang me at 7 am the next Monday to say they had a plan to build a brand-new race car, I just said ‘Bloody hell. There is no way’.

“But sure enough on that Monday they had picked up a new car. By the end of that day it had been stripped.”

Over the next few days, Beuvink saw his rebuild project continuously accelerate as fellow Mazda Racing Series members pitched in their support.

“It was just awesome,” Beuvink said. “We managed to achieve a three-month task in just 14 days.

“The crash had punched a hole in the motor. But within three days we had a new motor to put in the car. We even had a painter able to come in within short notice and do all of the interior.

“A friend, Kevin Richards, gave us another car for no cost as the first one didn’t have all the parts we needed. We even had a new cage and floor cut out for us in just three days.

“We were also fortunate that we could still take away a lot from the old, damaged car.

“Everyone was pitching in their help of the build. People were giving up their nights after work or offering us free shells of bits we may need.

“But a massive thanks goes to Leo and Elton. The two were legends and sacrificed so much of their spare time to help me. What we manage to do in just two weeks is incredible, and it all is all thanks to them.”

Beuvink confirmed he will now be on the grid at Hampton Downs for the third round of the championship, which will run as a support class to the New Zealand Grand Prix over January 22-24.

He even joked at the possibility of having seen his on-track rivals help him construct a winning racer.

“You never know, we could have all help make me a race-winning car,” he laughed. “I certainly don’t plan on being at the back of the grid, that’s for sure.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.