The weekend of October 24-26th at Manfeild brought the exciting prospect of seeing a new driver and a new ute join the NZV8 Utes series.
While just behind them, the NI Sixes would line up just behind the utes on the grid for the first time, presenting classic Ford vs Holding racing in two dimensions.
Two-time champion Brad Kroef came out narrowly on top on Saturday. Yet it’s already clear that current champion Glen Collinson, new talent Mitch Sparrow, and other hot prospects will ensure this will be a closely fought season.
During the morning’s Qualifying, we had a glimpse of what was to come. The newcomers not only settled in, but set some sizzling lap times, the big surprise being Sparrow, who qualified 2nd.
After climbing through the ranks in karting and having only competed in two previous races in the big Holden, the teenager unleashed an outstanding display of driving.
Daniel Ludlam was also running hot, qualifying ahead of reigning champion Collinson in 4th. Blair Gribble-Bowring flexed the muscles of his new Ford FG ute, achieving 5th fastest.
Phill Ross lost power steering mid-session, yet still managed 7th and was just 1.3 seconds behind pole.
With barely half a second separating the first four qualifiers, Race One in the afternoon was set to be a close one.
While Kroef was on pole, Sparrow flew around Kroef on turn one, lap one. From there, it was game on.
Just behind them, Collinson was also on a charge. He got around Ludlam on lap one and was ready to pounce. Ross had a great start, leaping from 7th to 4th all on the first lap, also getting around Ludlam.
Lap after lap, the leaders were separated by barely a second. When they encountered lapped traffic mid-race, they faced another challenge.
Collinson snatched 2nd when Sparrow went wide on the final turn into the main straight late in the race, but couldn’t catch Kroef. That’s how the three podium places finished, with Ross a comfortable 4th.
Further back, Jeremy Hunt was a big improver, moving up from 12th to finish 9th all on the first lap. Great driving.
Clearly, Sparrow is taking the pressure in his stride. After the race, he confessed, “I couldn’t get around a wide blue ute up in front,“ referring to Brad Kroef’s defensive driving skills.
“But it was fun.”
With the reverse grid Race Two the next morning, the NZV8 Utes were set for another overtaking exhibition.
The rain stayed away the following day and the new V8 Ute stars shone through. Ludlam scored his first-ever win in Sunday’s Race Two, then backed it up with another win in Race Three.
That was all he needed to win the V8 Utes’ season opener, a round supported by long-term utes partner UDC Finance.
The day before, however, the outlook was looking rather different. Kroef topped qualifying, then went on to win race one.
He ultimately finished runner-up for the Round while Collinson, despite a mechanical failure, managed 3rd.
Sunday’s race two was a reverse grid format, where yesterday’s tail-enders began up front.
After starting 8th, Ludlam stormed through the midfield and took the lead by the third lap. From there, he kept stretching his lead, lap after lap, enjoying the unfamiliar luxury of a clear track ahead.
Further back, Collinson was on a charge. After starting last, Collinson was slicing through the midfield and was hassling newcomer Cam Vernon for 2nd place by the fifth lap.
Vernon kept ahead of the V8 utes veteran until finally relenting late in the race, ultimately settling for 3rd.
Greg Kroef put in a great race, moving up from his 7th starting position to finish 4th. Ross kept a cool head, accelerating up four spots from 9th to 5th.
The race didn’t end so well for rookie Mitch Sparrow as a first-lap altercation broke his left front suspension.
Fortunately, Sparrow and his crew managed to perform shock treatment on the wounded Holden in time for race three mid-afternoon. And what a race it was.
Collinson started up front, a position he typically dominates for the entire race. But Ludlam had other plans as he snatched the lead by the second lap, Collinson soon re-took the lead, but beneath the surface, trouble was brewing.
Then on lap four, it all changed. Collinson’s gearbox was in trouble, leaving him only third gear, and his opportunist adversaries streamed past.
Further back, Sparrow was making amends for the morning DNF. After starting last, he was up to 6th by the third lap.
Daniel held the lead to the finish, Brad Kroef was menacingly close behind in 2nd, while Ross and Sparrow scrapped it out for 3rd – trading places but fortunately not paint.
At the chequered flag, Ludlam was again the winner. Brad Kroef bagged some valuable series points for 2nd, setting the fastest lap along the way. Ross prevailed over Sparrow for 3rd.
With new drivers elevating the quality of V8 Ute racing, season 2025-26 is going to be one exciting season.
Qualifying Results:
| Position | Driver | Ute | Best Lap |
| 1st | Brad Kroef | Ford | 1.17.404 |
| 2nd | Mitch Sparrow | Holden | 1.17.827 |
| 3rd | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | 1.17.865 |
| 4th | Glen Collinson | Ford | 1.17.997 |
| 5th | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | 1.18.016 |
| 6th | Greg Kroef | Ford | 1.18.607 |
| 7th | Phill Ross | Holden | 1.18.767 |
| 8th | Geoff Spencer | Holden | 1.19.072 |
| 9th | Tyler Ward | Holden | 1.19.844 |
| 10th | Paul Fougere | Holden | 1.20.275 |
| 11th | Cam Vernon | Ford | 1.21.300 |
| 12th | Jeremy Hunt | Holden | 1.21.814 |
Race One Results:
| Position | Driver | Ute | Margin |
| 1st | Brad Kroef | Ford | |
| 2nd | Glen Collinson | Ford | +0.529 |
| 3rd | Mitch Sparrow | Holden | +0.903 |
| 4th | Phill Ross | Holden | +5.457 |
| 5th | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | +6.399 |
| 6th | Greg Kroef | Ford | +8.050 |
| 7th | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | +10.278 |
| 8th | Geoff Spencer | Holden | +16.996 |
| 9th | Jeremy Hunt | Holden | +21.244 |
| 10th | Tyler Ward | Holden | +21.486 |
| 11th | Paul Fougere | Holden | +22.758 |
| 12th | Cam Vernon | Ford | +25.772 |
Race Two Results:
| Position | Driver | Ute | Margin |
| 1st | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | |
| 2nd | Glen Collinson | Ford | +8.064 |
| 3rd | Cam Vernon | Ford | +9.561 |
| 4th | Greg Kroef | Ford | +12.086 |
| 5th | Phill Ross | Holden | +12.245 |
| 6th | Geoff Spencer | Holden | +12.798 |
| 7th | Brad Kroef | Ford | +12.998 |
| 8th | Paul Fougere | Holden | +14.768 |
| 9th | Tyler Ward | Holden | +15.615 |
| 10th | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | +16.613 |
| 11th | Jeremy Hunt | Holden | +23.463 |
| 12th | Mitch Sparrow | Holden | DNF |
Race Three Results:
| Position | Driver | Ute | Margin |
| 1st | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | |
| 2nd | Brad Kroef | Ford | +1.361 |
| 3rd | Phill Ross | Holden | +2.670 |
| 4th | Mitch Sparrow | Holden | +3.082 |
| 5th | Greg Kroef | Ford | +5.280 |
| 6th | Geoff Spencer | Holden | +14.447 |
| 7th | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | +14.662 |
| 8th | Cam Vernon | Ford | +19.762 |
| 9th | Paul Fougere | Holden | +23.708 |
| 10th | Glenn Collinson | Ford | +46.080 |
| 11th | Tyler Ward | Holden | +56.276 |
| 12th | Jeremy Hunt | Holden | 2 Laps |
Header Image: Dillon Photography
