The 2026 Classic SpeedFest is this weekend at Teretonga Park in Invercargill, and as usual, the event will feature some very interesting cars and participants.
One special highlight will be the arrival of the TKR (Team Kiwi Racing) 25th Anniversary Tour at the event.
The tour brings the original iconic TKR All Black V8 Supercar, the Commodore that Jason Richards and Angus Fogg first raced at Bathurst in 2000, to Teretonga Park. TKR was New Zealand’s first-ever V8 Supercar Team, and interest in their efforts was very high as they embarked on their mission across the Tasman.
Over many years, some of New Zealand’s very best have driven for the team and that history will be on display in the pits at Teretonga Park this weekend. There will also be merchandise for sale while the Commodore will be seen on track at lunchtime on both Saturday and Sunday.
SpeedFest is also excited to welcome the Formula Junior Platinum Jubilee World Tour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Formula Junior. The formula served as a stepping stone to Formula 1 from 1958 to 1963, with many of the world’s best drivers competing.
While there are numerous international drivers from the UK, Italy, Australia and Great Britain, two names in particular stand out amongst the field.
Ray Mallock, from the United Kingdom, is part of the tour and is well known to motor racing enthusiasts as both a driver and an engineer. Mallock’s father, Major Arthur Mallock, designed the Mallock U2, and it was in those cars that Ray competed in Formula Ford in 1969, Clubman’s Formula in 1970 and 1971, and then Formula 3 in 1971 and 1972.
Ray then went on to compete in Formula Atlantic, Formula 2 between 1973 and 1977 and then the British Formula One Championship from 1978 to 1980.
Throughout that period, there was plenty of success with two UK Clubman’s Championships and two British Formula Atlantic titles. As a private entrant in Formula 2 during 1977, he snared second in the Daily Express International Trophy at Silverstone.
He also won a prestigious Grovewood Award, at that time awarded to up-and- coming drivers from Britain and the Commonwealth. Over the years, names such as James Hunt, Martin Brundle and Damon Hill have also won the Grovewood Awards.
As well as driving success, his engineering expertise saw Mallock secure a variety of test and development contracts.
He competed at Le Mans for the first time in 1979 before returning with the Aston Martin Nimrod programme in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
In 1985, 1986 and 1987 he was responsible for the design, development and operation of the Ecurie Ecosse Group C2 cars with which the team won the C2 class of the World Sportscar championship in 1986 with Austin Rover engines. Mallock won several rounds of the World Sportscar championship in cars of his own.
Ray’s final drive as a professional was in 1989, driving the works Aston Martin AMR1 at Le Mans.
Through his company, RML Group Ltd, he then spent time running Vauxhall’s BTCC programme in the 1990’s, as well as Nissan and the Chevrolet World Touring Car Championship effort.
Retired now from running his successful company, he is enjoying historic and classic racing, going back to his roots using the famous Mallock U2.
The other interesting name in the Formula Junior field is Grant Walker of Australia. Walker is a kiwi who won the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship in the 1974/75 season, who later drove the ex-Paul Fahey Ford Cologne Capri, a car that featured in a spectacular startline incident at Teretonga Park in the 1970’s.
Other classes at the event include HVRA, Classic Saloons, Formula Libre, Vintage Racing Cars, Mini 7 South and Mazda MX5’s, plus the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons.
Presale tickets are on sale from E Hayes & Sons, Dee Street, Invercargill and Harrisons Supplies, Mersey Street in Gore at just $40 for a weekend pass plus any applicable charges while at the gate they are $50.
Day passes at the gate for either Saturday or Sunday are $30 per day. Children 14 & under are free throughout the event when accompanied by an adult.
Header Image: Dave Loudon
