The Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series championship has unveiled its calendar for the 2020/21 season, including for its inaugural South Island championship.
As first reported by Velocity News back in May, this summer will have the country’s oldest sanctioned motorsport series expand into the South Island.
The expansion will be the first in the series’ history, building off the success of last season which saw record grid numbers of RX8’s, RX7’s and MX5’s across all three of the North Island class’.
Until recently, most of the cars running in the South Island Pro 7 Series have been modified and fall outside the current parameters of the Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series.
Twelve drivers are understood to have entered for the first of four rounds which kicks off at Levels Raceway in Timaru on November 7.
One of which is Dunedin RX8 driver and series co-ordinator Russell Burgess. He is expecting plenty of close racing across the South Island contingent this season but isn’t rating his own chances.
“I love the close racing that the class provides along with the camaraderie of fellow race members whenever all goes pear-shaped, and a quick repair is required.
“I’ll be right in the wet, but I have all wrong lines in the dry due to too much gravel dust in the veins
“It’s all about being there and enjoying every moment”.
Following the season-opener, the series kicks back off in March of the new year with the final three rounds held at Ruapuna, Teretonga and Highlands Motorsport Park.
The North Island calendar will once again mostly follow the 2021 Speedworks summer season running between January and March.
The first round, however, will be at Hampton Downs for a two-day meeting over October 30-31.
From there, the series will head to Pukekohe before a return trip to Hampton Downs. Manfeild will hold the next round before another trip to Pukekohe which lead onto the season-finale on March 26 at Taupo.
Series committee spokesperson Steve Spear says he is expecting upwards of 30 cars for the North Island championship. But he believes the most significant achievement was the inclusion of the South Island, which is demonstrative of how strong the series is growing.
“We’re all really excited,” said Spear. “We want to get back together and get some good laps in.
“We can’t wait to welcome new drivers to the club and the addition of a dedicated South Island series shows what a strong class this has become. Everyone is eager to blow off the cobwebs and go racing.”
North Island Series:
- – Round 1: Hampton Downs. 30th-31st October 2020
- – Round 2: Pukekohe. 4th-6th December 2020
- – Round 3: Hampton Downs. 22nd-24th January 2021
- – Round 4: Manfeild. 12th-14th February 2021
- – Round 5: Pukekohe. 5th-7th March 2021
- – Round 6: Taupo. 26th-28th March 2021
South Island Series:
- – Round 1: Levels – Timaru. November 7 2020
- – Round 2: Ruapuna. March 14 2021
- – Round 3: Teretonga. 20th-21st March 2021
- – Round 4: Highlands. 23rd-24th April 2021