The 2025/26 season of the GT New Zealand Championship gets underway this weekend at Hampton Downs for the first of a five-round championship.
Among the front-runners are several of New Zealand’s leading GT drivers, with a mix of Porsche, Audi, Toyota and Mercedes-AMG machinery set to provide a thrilling showcase of GT racing.
Fans can expect close competition across the weekend, with every car and driver combination capable of fighting for race wins.
Unique for the start of this season’s on-track action is the arrival of the Monochrome GT4 field from Australia, who come to the Hampton Downs circuit for their final round, with the New Zealand GT4 competitors joining the field.
The Kiwi competitors are accruing points for the GT New Zealand Championship within the Australian race.
Joining the Australian GT4 field are NZ racers James Sax in his Mercedes AMG, having finished second last season.
Also joining are the Toyota Supra GT4 EVO 2s of Allan Sargeant, and the duo of Glenn Chappel & Shaun Varney, who will share an entry – both cars run out of the Race Lab team.
Add to that, look for Greg Murphy, who partners with Grant Aitken in an Audi R8 GT4.
In the Open Class, returning champion from 2024/25 and winner of the Porsche Endurance Trophy, Rick Armstrong, returns to defend his title out of the International Motorsport team.
Sam Fillmore returns in his Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car, as does International Motorsport team mate Luke Manson in a new look Porsche 992.
Returning to the Championship is Christchurch-based racer Paul Kelly, who will field his own Porsche 992. Newcomer Andrew Childe lines up in a Porsche 992 for the first time in the Championship.
Former GT4 Champion Nigel Cromie will return to the track this season, stepping up to the Open Class in a Porsche 992, having previously raced a McLaren 570 GT4.
19-year-old Regan Scoullar returns this season, having acquired the Championship-winning Porsche 992 of Rick Armstrong. Armstrong is in a new car.
Front runner last season, and finishing second in the Championship, Joel Giddy returns in his new look Mercedes AMG GT2.
Despite the field being a bit lean, Category Manager Grant Smith said the depth of competition and professionalism ensure a strong start to the 2025/26 season.
“We’ve had some scheduling challenges for this opening round, but the calibre of the teams and cars we have on the grid is outstanding,” Smith said.
“Due to unavoidable date clashes, four of the regular Open Class competitors will be absent, while four of the regular GT4 drivers will be competing in the Australian Monochrome GT4 series this weekend as part of an earlier commitment.”
“The battles throughout the field will be fantastic, and we’re expecting a great weekend of racing.”
“That leaves a compact but high-quality field of eight Open Class competitors for the championship opener — and what the grid may lack in numbers, it more than makes up for in talent, machinery, and pedigree.”
Round 2 of the Championship heads south to Teretonga Park in January, with entries already expected to climb to the early twenties as the full field returns.
Header Image: Supplied
