Bryan Walker of Christchurch had his best round of racing in the Mazda Racing Super Series to date when he won the opening round of the 2026/2027 season at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding last weekend.
After three typically exciting races in the class, he prevailed to take the round from Nigel Edger of Hamilton and Simon Baker of Kapiti. Edger also won the Grand Masters (Over 55 Class) and Baker the Masters (45-54yo) Class while Rudi Kronstrom of Auckland won Rookie honours for the round.
The three races provided three different winners, with Walker taking his maiden race win on Saturday from Edger and series debutant Finley McQuade, after the first two across the line, Baker and James Black of Dunedin, received penalties.
Baker received a 20-second time penalty which dropped him down the order, and Black was disqualified for a technical infringement. Jesse Gould of Raumati Beach was fourth, with Kronstrom fifth and Garrod Brader of Porirua, a returnee to the series, sixth.
After their penalties on Saturday, both Black and Baker started from the back on Sunday morning. Phil Clemas of Auckland led early before Walker, who had made a fast start, took the lead. Black was storming through from the back, sitting fifteenth after the first lap.
Two laps later he was into the top ten before taking third two laps later. Baker was also carving his way through, and at one point a spectacular dive bomb into turn one gained him several places.
With five laps to go, Walker led Kronstrom by 3.3 seconds, with Black third, Edger fourth, and Baker fifth. Black moved into second on lap 8 and sliced the margin lap after lap until he took the lead on the final lap.
Baker seized third on the penultimate lap, and as they greeted the chequered flag, it was Black by 1.147 seconds, with Walker’s brakes having gone off, while Baker set the fastest lap third. Kronstrom, Edger, Gould, Leon Davis, McQuade, Ant Tork and Brader completed the top ten.
Andy French spun at the hairpin on lap 8, and soon after Alex Canty had a moment at Turn 1 that dropped him out of the top ten, while Dalan Price retired.
Edger led early in the finale before Baker took the lead on lap 3.
Black again forged through the field and was up to third by the end of lap 4. On lap 8, he moved up to second, and at the line Baker led Black by 2.7 seconds, though Black set the fastest lap, with Edger completing a good weekend in third. Walker was fourth ahead of Kronstrom, Gould, McQuade, Brader, Canty and Davis.
The next round of the series takes place at Taupō International Motorsport Park, Taupō, over the weekend of 13-15 November.
Header Image: Apex Frames NZ
