The 2025 North Island Endurance Series roared into life over the weekend at Taupō International Motorsport Park, with the opening 1-Hour race serving up a dramatic mix of speed, strategy, and mechanical heartbreak.
Qualifying: Chester Stuns with Fastest Lap
Nick Chester, behind the wheel of a thundering ex Holden Commodore VZ V8 Supercar, set the tone early with a commanding pole lap that left the field in his wake—his time over 2.4 seconds quicker than the second-placed Porsche 992 GT3 Cup of Steve Brooks and Bill Riding.
Behind them, a trio of Porsches jostled for top-four positions, with Francois Beziac (GT3 Cup 991 II MR) and Regan Scoullar (GT3 Cup 991 II) securing third and fourth on the grid, respectively.
Nigel Cromie made his mark in the McLaren 570S GT4, qualifying fifth overall and clinching pole in the highly competitive Class 3. He was joined on row three by Allan Sargeant in the Toyota Supra GT4.
The rest of the top ten was dominated by Class 3 GT4 machinery, with Kent Quinn (Porsche 982 Cayman GT4), Steve Scoles (Ginetta G56 GT4), David Rogers and David Cranna (both McLaren 570S GT4s) lining up in positions 7 through 10.
Race: Early Charge, Pit Drama and Late-Stage Twist
Under cold, overcast skies and a biting southerly breeze, the 1-Hour enduro got underway, with Brooks/Riding seizing the early advantage over Beziac and Scoullar. But drama struck before the lights even went out as pole-sitter Chester was forced to start from pit lane after missing the designated pit window, setting the stage for a fierce comeback.
By lap 6, the Brooks/Riding Porsche was already into traffic, lapping Nathan Grammer’s Class 5 Toyota 86. Chester, meanwhile, was storming through the field with a top speed advantage of around 10km/h over the leaders.
As the race unfolded, Brooks/Riding maintained the lead through the first half, slicing through lapped traffic with precision. But Chester’s relentless charge brought him into contention by the halfway mark. With 30 minutes to go, he was right on their tail, setting up a thrilling fight for the win.
The turning point came during the pit window. A seatbelt tangle during the driver change for Brooks/Riding allowed Chester to sweep into the lead and dominate the second half of the race. But the heartbreak wasn’t over.
With just minutes left on the clock, Chester’s Holden began losing oil pressure. Forced to nurse the car to the flag, he relinquished the lead in the final stages, handing the win back to the Brooks/Riding Porsche pairing.
Class Victories and Final Standings
Steve Brooks and Bill Riding not only took overall honours but also secured the Class 1 win. Chester, despite oil pressurel woes, held on for second overall, while Francois Beziac drove a clean and consistent race to complete the podium in third.
In Class 3, it was Nigel Cromie who converted his pole position into a flawless class win in the McLaren 570S GT4. He was followed home by Allan Sargeant in the Toyota Supra GT4 and Steve Scoles in the Ginetta G56 GT4.
Conley Webley, who was off to a great start on his debut at Taupō, suffered significant delays after a broken suspension component required lengthy repairs. However, despite finishing 11 laps down, he still took home Class 4 honours in the BMW Z4.
Nathan Grammer endured a tough race but walked away with the win in Class 5 in his Toyota 86.
The opening round at Taupō delivered everything endurance fans crave—tight battles, pit-stop drama, and underdog grit. With several storylines already brewing, the 2025 North Island Endurance Series is shaping up to be a season to watch.
Header Image: Jessica Barnes / Blissful Photography
