The Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series heads to Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding this weekend for the fourth and final round of their New Zealand Championship. The meet also doubles as Round 4 of the North Island Championship, which is the penultimate round of that series.
Prebbleton driver Chris White, having already wrapped up the South Island title, leads the points in both championships as they come to the Manawatu, but has faced strong challenges each round, and several drivers have shown the ability to take the battle to White at the front of the field.
One of those is Auckland driver Warren Crowther, who sits second in both the National and North Island points. Crowther is fresh from a round win last time out at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
Ex-pat South African Stiaan Kriel is currently third in the National Championship and has also raced well since arriving in the series, while young Timaru rookie Will Kitching has also been right amongst the action and sits fourth in the points.
Aucklanders Sam Dashfield and Karl Gaines, plus Wellington’s Stu Lawton, have had some good results in the national series, while young South Island rookies Arthur Broughan and Mac Templeton have shown great speed since joining the fray.
Aucklanders Leo Bult, Nigel Edger, and Steve Brown are prominent drivers in the North Island Championship and will line up this weekend.
The Mazda Racing Series competitors will take part in two fifteen-minute test sessions on Friday before a fifteen-minute qualifying session late on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, competitors face a 10-lap race from a grid based on qualifying times before their second race later in the day, over 12 laps. The top ten on the grid are established from the reverse order of the opening race.
The final race of the round, with a grid based on points, will take place over 10 laps on Sunday morning.
The weekend will confirm the New Zealand Champion while setting the scene for the final round of the North Island Championship in May.
In addition, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand and the Mazda Racing Series have teamed up to offer the top Under 25 and Master in the entire championship a test drive in the new Toyota GR86 Championship car.
That will be decided after the final round of the North Island Championship back at Hampton Downs in May.
