The new motor racing season is about to get underway in earnest and prior to the opening shots being fired in the North Island Championship, the Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series has unveiled a new constitution which sees their association name change to the New Zealand Mazda Racing Series.
Spokesperson for the series, Lindsay Dodd says, “the change has been made to truly reflect the fact that it is a national series with four national rounds as well as six rounds for the North Island title and four rounds for the South Island title.”
“The name change not only reflects that we are a truly national series but in mid-September we marked the milestone of 30 years as a fully accredited motor racing series in New Zealand, a feature that gives our competitors great continuity.”
“The series is also proud to confirm that Nexen Tyre remain as the naming rights sponsor for the season.”
This season will commence in the North Island over Labour Weekend later this month at ‘OctoberFAST!’ at Circuit Chris Amon, with a mix of traditional racing comrades facing a number of new competitors.
The first South Island Series round will take place at Timaru International Motor Raceway over the weekend of 4th and 5th of November with a good grid of around 10 to 12 solid entries expected with several new entries also anticipated.
The first two rounds of the National Series will take place in the South Island in January 2023 with the opener at Mike Pero Motorsport Park at Ruapuna in Christchurch over the weekend of 21st and 22nd of January followed by Round 2 at Timaru one week later. The national series then features two rounds in the North Island later in the season.
Dodd says he expects to see a maximum grid in the South Island for the national rounds with a large North Island contingent travelling south to compete.
The Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series features intense, close racing, the margin between the fastest and slowest ten cars at one event last season, just seven tenths of a second all weekend.
One driver who will be giving the series his all this season is Flynn Mullany behind the wheel of the Cello Racing Team entry in the North and National categories. We recently caught up with Mullany about his journey into the series.
Main image: Joel Hanks
