One of New Zealand’s premier – and consistently popular – historic racing grids is gearing up to return to the track in 2026, with former champions and Bathurst victors among the mix.
Promising an extensive roster of retro touring cars, the John Fairhall Historic Touring Cars NZ (HTCNZ) group is lining up to attack the tarmac at Christchurch’s Euromarque Motorsport Park twice in 2026 – bringing with them a taste of arguably some of the most exciting racing of the 1980s and 90s.
February 6th – 8th will see the field join the Skope Classic programme, a meeting that has become a staple of the HTCNZ field with plenty of opportunity for spectators to see their favourite tin-tops in action over six sessions, including four races over the weekend.
The big news is the inclusion of the field at the ITM Christchurch Super 440, scheduled for 17th – 19th April at Euromarque Motorsport Park. As a historic first for Supercars racing in the South Island, HTCNZ will provide a shot of colour, sound and style of yesteryear to race week.
HTCNZ is pleased to welcome John Fairhall back as the naming rights sponsor for the grid. The Fairhall name has an enduring association with touring car racing in New Zealand. In 1985, he purchased and campaigned the black ‘Archibalds’ BMW 635CSi, winning the New Zealand Touring Car Group A series, as well as the Benson and Hedges series.
In 2014, John was instrumental in establishing the Historic Touring Car class, which featured many of the cars that raced in New Zealand in the 1980s. John was able to purchase back the BMW 635 and have Trevor Crowe race it in the series.
A diverse grid of machinery spanning the Group 1 era of the late 1970s, flame-spitting Group A weapons of the 1980s and early 90s, bellowing early Australian 5-litre touring cars and the technological wizardry of the European 2-litre super tourers is set to support Australasia’s pre-eminent modern-day touring car category.
Buoyed by the support and enthusiasm generated both in New Zealand and abroad following their appearance at the final Pukekohe round back in 2022, HTCNZ is expecting a field of quality cars, with some notable machines and drivers to keep an eye on.
The crowd-favourite Ford Sierra RS500s are set to be out in force, with the Whittakers Peanut Slab, Playscape Racing, and soon-to-be restored Dick Johnson Racing ‘DJR6’ Sierra to be joined by two new cars to the field – Colin Bond’s Caltex-liveried RS500 that he drove to his two final ATCC wins, and the Kaliber colours of the recently restored ex-Andy Rouse machine, built for the 1988 BTCC and subsequently campaigned in Asia and Australia.
Steven Richards will be back behind the wheel of the Nissan Skyline GTS-R, a car taken to the ATCC championship by father Jim, with fellow Bathurst-winner Greg Murphy pencilled in to drive the ex-David Leslie and Neil Crompton Honda Accord super tourer, and Kayne Scott to sit aboard the ex-Matt Neal 1998 Nissan Primera.
A roster of BMW touring cars is set to take part, from the Group A E30 M3S to the 2-litre E36 super tourers, including the infamous 1992 Vic Lee Motorsport 318i of Tim Harvey, a car involved in season-end controversy at Silverstone on its way to the BTCC title.
As is tradition, the John Fairhall HTCNZ grid focuses on the cars, with an emphasis on clean, close racing, camaraderie and continuing to raise the profile of historic touring car racing both locally and abroad.
For owners of race-ready, genuine historic touring cars who wish to join the John Fairhall Historic Touring Cars NZ group, please visit https://www.historictouringcars.co.nz/how-to-join/ for further information.
Image: Historic Touring Cars NZ
