James Black of Dunedin drew first blood when the 2025/2026 Mazda Racing Super Series got underway at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding on Saturday.
Black, who had first joined the category in the middle of last season, scored his first series victory in a strong drive from third on the grid.
He initially took the lead on lap three and was briefly headed late in the race by Stuart Lawton of Paraparaumu before regaining the lead to take the chequered flag ahead of Callum Pratt of Auckland and 2022/2023 North Island Champion Rex Edwards of Tauranga.
Alex Canty of Auckland capped off a strong day with fourth place, with reigning North Island Champion and runner-up in last year’s National Series, Lawton, next.
Lawton had taken pole in qualifying earlier in the day ahead of Pratt, Black, and Edwards, but after leading, he dropped back late in the race as he ran out of fuel, nursing the car home to cross the line fifth.
Rudi Kronstrom of Auckland announced his arrival in the series with a fine sixth place, taking Rookie honours in the process, while Bryan Walker of Christchurch finished seventh.
Nigel Edger of Hamilton was eighth and the first Masters (Over 50) competitor across the line, ahead of fellow Masters driver Steve Brown of Auckland. Another rookie, Tomas Climo of Hamilton, also made an impressive series debut in tenth place.
It was an exciting first race that ignited the season with some tight competition in a clean, fast, and competitive opener.
On Sunday, Pratt gained the early advantage in the series after the first round. Pratt won two of the three races and finished second in the other behind Black, leaving the Manawatu circuit with the early points lead in the series.
He topped the round with 128 points to take the top step of the podium ahead of Edwards (111 points) and Lawton (101 points).
Black had won the opening race on Saturday after a great battle with fastest qualifier Lawton, who ran out of fuel towards the end of the race, nursing his car home in fifth place. Pratt crossed the line second with Edwards third.
On Sunday, Pratt won both races. The first featured the traditional top ten reverse grid from Saturday’s result. Brown led early from rookie Tomas Climo of Hamilton before Edwards came through to the front after rocketing off the start line.
Climo snatched the lead back mid-race, and then Lawton came through on lap seven and led to the flag, with Pratt crossing the line second ahead of Edwards and Saturday’s race winner Black.
However, both Lawton and Edwards received five-second penalties for jump starts, promoting Pratt to the race win from Black and Lawton. Edwards was classified fourth ahead of Climo and Canty.
Black led initially in the final race but lost his brakes early on, pitching him off the circuit. Pratt took the lead and remained in front to the flag, with Edwards second.
Ajay Giddy of Auckland, who had finished fourteenth on Saturday and was a non-finisher on Sunday morning, put in a remarkable drive to come from the back of the field to place third, ahead of Canty and Lawton after an incident-packed race.
Canty had a good weekend with three top-six results, while Walker featured well with two top-ten finishes.
Several of the rookie drivers in the field excelled, with Black claiming Rookie honours for the round. However, Kronstrom, Climo, and Giddy were all impressive throughout the weekend.
Elton Wichman of Auckland topped the Masters (Over 50) podium from Edger and Brown in a tight battle between the three.
The next round of the series took place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, North Waikato, over the weekend of 22–23 November.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
