The Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series heads for Levels Raceway in Timaru this weekend for Round 2 of their South Island Series with a new points leader guaranteed at the conclusion of the round.
Chris White won all three races at the opening round in Christchurch, with Arthur Broughan second on each occasion. However, both are now turning their focus to the Toyota GR86 Championship, which leaves Will Kitching, who was third overall at the opening round, the leading contender this weekend.
Kitching had an impressive rookie season last year, finishing second to White in the South Island Series and third overall in the New Zealand title race. Kitching also took his maiden series win at his home circuit in Timaru January.
While Kitching sits third in the series coming to Levels, the competition is tight. Just four points behind after one round is Dalan Price, with Mac Templeton one point further point back.
Mac Berkett is the leading rookie in last year’s championship winning car, while Matt Dodd is always at the pointy end of the field and was runner-up in the South Island Series two years ago.
Aucklander Anthony Tork is the leading Masters competitor (over 50) while Michael Court, Andrew French and Marc Denton round out the entries, along with Bryan Walker.
Court and Denton are in their first season in the series in newly built cars, while French is in his second. Walker is making his first appearance in the series this weekend after White used his car to win the round while he was overseas for Round 1.
Competitors have practice on Friday with qualifying and the first race of the round over ten laps on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday the series has two races, the first a twelve-lap contest with the top ten from Saturday’s race in reverse order on the grid with the finale over ten laps later that day.
