GT New Zealand Championship battle resumes at Hampton Downs

Kiwi stars, seasoned campaigners and an Australian up-and-comer are among those confirmed in the field for Round 2 of the Summerset GT New Zealand Championship at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Reigning champion Rick Armstrong, in a Porsche 992, enters the round with the Open Class championship lead following Round 1 at Taupo, but has the likes Sam Fillmore (Porsche 992) and Joel Giddy (Mercedes-AMG GT2) keeping the pressure on at the top of the standings.

Three race wins in Taupo sees Marco Giltrap return to Hampton Downs at the top of the all-new Junior Pro class, but the addition of Tom Bewley, driving a Porsche 991.2 GT3 car that has been set to the same specification as the ones he will race in the Porsche Sprint Challenge in Australia this year, will ensure the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia champion has to work for his spoils.

International Motorsport will field a strong contingent of six Porsche 992 Cup Cars, with Armstrong and Fillmore joined by Luke Manson, Paul Southam, Glenn Cotterill and Sam Cotterill.

Other Porsches will be in the hands of Paul Kelly (Porsche 992) and the 991.2 Porsche Cup Car of Shaun Varney.

Paul Pedersen also lines up in a Mercedes-AMG GT2, while James Parker will field the sole IRC GT machine, taking over from Danny Stutterd, who raced it at round one.

A bolstered GT4 field includes the arrival of young Australian racer Zoe Woods in her Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, who comes with previous experience in the Australian GT4 Championship last year.

“I’ve never been to New Zealand before, let alone raced there, it will be quite a cool experience,” says Woods.

“I should feel reasonably comfortable though, as we’re sending my car over for it and I’ll have my team around me and racing against all different cars will be fun.”

Tony Quinn is another who will compete in the class, also in a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

An expanded field of Toyota Supra GT4 EVOs sees Allan Sargeant joined by Historic GP winner Kaleb Ngatoa in the car which featured at Round 1, while another Supra makes its debut in the hands of Mark Mallard and Ayrton Hodson.

William Exton enters the round in the lead of the GT4 standings in a McLaren Artura, ahead of Sargeant and James Sax, who returns in a Mercedes AMG GT4.

The racing at Hampton Downs this weekend will see two 30-minute races and a single 1-hour feature race held over the weekend.

GT New Zealand Championship Round 2 Entry List