The 2026 Top Gear Trailers Top Half Series is turning into one of the closest championship series in recent memory, with all still to play for with one round remaining.
The Top Half series is unique in the way that drivers total points are counted over four race weekends, with no dropped races – meaning every result, good or bad, counts to their overall season total. Drivers also have to consider a two set tyre limit, and randomised starting grids.
It is not only series honours on the line – courtesy of Toyota Gazoo Racing, the winners of the Rotax Max Junior and Rotax Max Light classes also win a half-day test in the Toyota TR86 car, as raced in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Trophy Series. All drivers also have the chance to win spot prizes such as free entries, tyres, vouchers, and Makita tools.
Furthermore, the addition of two seperate competitions spiced up an already big weekend. Rotax DD2 drivers had the opportunity to fight for a ticket to the Rotax Max World Challenge in Portugal, to represent New Zealand on an international level. A Rotax Heavy ‘Supercup’ was also added, allowing drivers entered in that class to fight for extra cash and spot prizes, with a $3,000 prize pool up for grabs.
TCB Motorsport – Cadet Rok
It was certainly close at the top in Cadet Rok, with the #88 of Charlie Brant and #57 of Buddy Murch both tying on 244 points out of a possible 250. Brant brought home two wins, a second, a third, and a fourth to take the weekend win on countback ahead of Murch, who put in a great effort to take two wins and three thirds. The duo finished ahead of the #78 of Riley Preston, with the #3 of Sebastian Grant and Oliver Candlish in the #66 taking fourth and fifth.
Although Murch could not take the round, the young driver holds a nine point lead in the championship over Brant, with Grant sitting eight points behind the #88. The battle for fourth is also heating up, with Candlish holding a narrow four point lead over Zack Smith for fourth, with Riley Preston sitting one point behind Smith.
N-Zed Motorsport – Vortex Mini Rok
The #3NZ of Joey Zhou was able to take the round victory in Vortex Mini Rok with three wins, a fourth, and a ninth, finishing two points ahead of the #10 of Van Walker. Walker managed to secure a win, a second, a third, a fifth, and a seventh to secure a round podium and remain in the championship lead. In an impressive effort, Alan Alcock managed to take third place for the round with a race podium and multiple fourth/fifth place finishes, ahead of Freddy Waller, and Stirling Craw.
Walker now holds an eight point lead over the #77 of Dominic Evers, with Zhou close behind. Zan Twilley holds a thin fourth place lead over Timmy Brok with one round to go, with anything possible in such a tighly contested class.
International Kart Supplies – Rotax Max Junior
Indi Urwin was able to put it together to take the round win in Rotax Max Junior, in a busy eighteen kart field. was able to bring home a win, two thirds, and two fifths to finish on 238 points, narrowly ahead of Charlie Jamieson. Jamieson put together a near clinical performance with three wins and a second, but was hurt by a DNF in Heat 1 – ultimately costing him the weekend victory. Braden Watson finished a singular point behind Jamieson, bringing home a win and a third during his heat racing.
In terms of the championship, Aryan Lala holds an eight point lead over Zach Hemphill, with Brae Milne and Tyler Kilip in a tight battle for third – with only four points seperating the pair. Brayden Fitzgibbon holds fifth, ten points behind Kilip.
Urban Performance – Rotax Max Light
It became a battle of consistency in the Rotax Max Light class, with drivers forced to focus on maximising every race. Heat wins were shared across four drivers, with only Jamie Thompson managing to take more than one. However, Arrive and Drive Asia-Pacific podium sitter Amelia Phillips managed to bring home 230 points to take the round win, all without not winning a heat or finishing on the podium. Thompson took a close second, ahead of the multi-talented Bree Morris. Championship leader Cy Finnemore took fourth, ahead of Motorsport New Zealand Elite Motorsport Academy graduate Nathan Grammar.
Finnemore continues to lead the championship, holding an extremely dominant fourty point lead over Seth Comer. Energy Corse Driver Scott MacDonald sits in third, with the #27 of Fletcher Lowe sitting only five points behind.
Rotax Max Heavy
It was a close two-way battle between Tom van Kan and Adam Bell for the round win, with van Kan taking the win by two points ahead of Bell. Aaron Tahu and Nico Voorend tied on 234 points, with Tahu taking it on countback with four thirds and a ninth.
JW Group – Rotax DD2
Plenty of wildcards took to the grid to compete for the Rotax Max Challenge ticket, including Zac Stichbury, Matt Hamilton, and Lachlan Tombleson. Tombleson was able to take the round win in a clear showing of speed, taking all five heat wins. Ryan Crombie finished six points behind Tombleson with 241 points, with a win, second, and two thirds. WKS KartStore owner and multiple time national champion Matt Hamilton took third, narrowly finishing behind Crombie by a single point. Tombleson’s dominance also meant he sealed the Rotax Max Challenge ticket to Portugal, with racing kicking off in two weeks time.
Crombie took over the lead of the championship from Jason Lee, with Adamson remaining in third. All three spots are still up for grabs, with Jason Lee presumed to miss the final round due to representing New Zealand in DD2 Masters at the Rotax Max World Challenge.
KZ2
Double duty was no problem for Lachlan Tombleson, who also managed to take a comfortable win in the six-speed KZ2 class. Tombleson pipped Corin to the win by three points, with the Über-experienced Daniel Bray taking third place over Graeme Smyth and Mathew Kinsman.
With one round remaining, the battle for the illustrious Top Half title is tighter than ever – with Karting Auckland hosting the final round on the 7th – 8th of November.
The current championship standings can be found here.
